Benazir Bhutto Assasinated

In an incident that has shocked the entire world, Benazir Bhutto was shot dead in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She was just leaving a huge rally and getting into the car when two unknown assailants shot her in the head and neck by AK-47 guns. She ducked but the bullets still got to her. She was rushed to the hospital but soon succumbed to her injuries.

This is the complete death of people-will and democracy in Pakistan. Elections are supposed to be held in Pakistan in the first week of January. It was hoped that democracy would be restored in the nation after 8 years of army rule under General Pervez Musharraf. Now it seems that is not going to happen. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto provided the two democratic alternatives to the Musharraf regime. Arguably Benazir was the more popular one. Now with her gone, it is hardly going to be a fair election.

The incident has put further questions on how a country so tightly gripped under extremism or lack of security can hold free and fair elections. Apparently Benazir repeatedly requested for security and investigations into death threats. Of course, Musharraf's security services did not take the required action. I was shocked to learn that she did not even have a bulletproof car! The failed attack on Nawaz Sharif, also today, and the thoughts of a former adviser to Benazir strongly indicate that a brilliant plan to eliminate the democratic threat was chalked out. Even with Nawaz Sharif escaping the bid on his life might not be enough to overcome the loss of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf might argue that a nation in so obvious unrest needs the stability he can provide with his military regime.

Here is to a strong woman who continued to stand up for Pakistani people even in face of grave danger to her life. May God bless her soul and revive the spirit of her actions. Amen.