Benazir Bhutto Assassinated (Updated)

Posted on by

Initial reports are coming in and SM will certainly pass on the message. First, CNN Reports –

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) — Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was targeted in a deadly suicide bombing Thursday. Media reports quote her husband saying she suffered a bullet wound to the neck in the attack.

…The attacker is said to have detonated a bomb as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

Some first guesses at implications..

While President Pervez Musharraf has promised free and fair parliamentary elections next month, continued instability in the tribal areas and the threat of attack on large crowds has kept people from attending political rallies and dampened the country’s political process.

Campaigners from various political groups say fewer people are coming out to show their support due to government crackdowns and the threat of violence.

Today’s violence come less than two weeks ahead of January parliamentary elections and as many days after President Pervez Musharraf lifted a six-week-old state of emergency he said was necessary to ensure the country’s stability.

Stay tuned.

<

p>

Updates:

  • Getty’s image archive of the event makes for some powerful browsing..
  • MSNBC: “A party security adviser said Bhutto was shot in the neck and chest as she got into her vehicle, then the gunman blew himself up.”
  • Sky: “Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford said from Pakistan the country’s upcoming January elections would “most likely be postponed or cancelled” because of the attack.”
  • “What’s worse, that Musharaff may have had a role in this or that he was powerless to stop it?”
  • CNN’s obit on Bhutto
  • State Department – “It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy.”
  • Very informative blog entries from NBC’s correspondant in Pakistan-
    But if you are any one of the 99.9 percent of the rest of the 165 million Pakistanis, you hardly notice the emergency law anymore….But most Pakistanis don’t feel it. Musharraf wants it that way…Most analysts here say Musharraf has damaged his reputation, perhaps critically. But so far, he hasn’t pushed people to the streets. Shops are open. Banks are open. Markets are full. Prices are the same as before emergency law. [link]
    With her white veil, bejeweled blouses, flawless English and flair for drama and theatrical timing, Benazir Bhutto has painted herself as lady liberty, a lone woman willing to risk all and stand up to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and his emergency rule…. But Pakistan is not Myanmar, and Bhutto is no Aung San Suu Kyi [link]
  • Excellent NYT article on Bhutto’s dark side –
    Ms. Bhutto, 54, returned to Pakistan to present herself as the answer to the nation’s troubles: a tribune of democracy in a state that has been under military rule for eight years, and the leader of the country’s largest opposition political party… But her record in power, and the dance of veils she has deftly performed since her return — one moment standing up to General Musharraf, then next seeming to accommodate him, and never quite revealing her actual intentions — has stirred as much distrust as hope among Pakistanis.
    …”She believes she is the chosen one, that she is the daughter of Bhutto and everything else is secondary,” said Feisal Naqvi, a corporate lawyer in Lahore who knows Ms. Bhutto … her view of the role of government differed little from the classic notion in Pakistan that the state was the preserve of the ruler who dished out favors to constituents and colleagues..
  • World Reaction including India –
    In India, which has long had a thorny relationship with its neighbors in Pakistan, an Indian Congress Party spokesman told the Press Trust of India, “… we must express our deep concern at anything that disrupts and disturbs the even keel of democratic governance in Pakistan… it is not only anti-democracy but also generates instability.”
  • Belmont Club –
    …meaningful elections can occur only when the armies — in this case the Pakistani Army and the armed Islamic militants — are committed to the processes of democracy. When every group under arms within a society is determined to settle the question of power by combat the role for the ballot is small indeed. The next few days will show whether the Pakistani Army — for it will surely not be the Taliban — can rededicate itself to electoral democracy. Pakistan needs its George Washington. Unfortunately it only has its Pervez Musharraf.

<

p>

Some of Vinod’s thoughts –

  • Both Musharaff and Bhutto are considered Pro-US / Pro-West / Secular leaders
    • Especially relative to the Islamists
    • And importantly, relative to the general population
    • Bhutto moreso than Musharraf
  • So, Jihadist forces (who are both anti-Musharraf and anti-Bhutto) are a likely culprit
    • To them, Bhutto was a powerful ally to Musharraf (rather than a rival) and potentially more dangerous in the long run
      • Knocking out an important ally wins them almost as much “cred” as taking out Musharraf directly
      • Bhutto was “more dangerous” because she was even more vocally Pro-West as well as a woman
    • “Pro-Musharraf forces” are getting the initial blame by some … but my gut leans skeptical
      • The jury is still out on whether this is a net gain or net loss for Musharraf’s interests
      • It certainly feeds the perception that he’s not in control of the country
  • Given their similarities, what are the substantive differences between Musharraf and Bhutto?
  • One key difference was their respective views of the general Pakistani population; Musharaff was a bit more of a “realist” ; Bhutto presented herself as an “idealist”
    • Musharaff feared that the populism writ large would lead to an illiberal democracy
    • Bhutto was more willing to turn to the electorate to ..
      • lead the country to more democracy (if you think she has Good Intentions)
      • secure more power / perks for herself (if you think she has Bad Intentions despite the lofty rhetoric)
    • By contrast, Musharraf feared that Bhutto’s push for “more democracy” would backfire, leading to “less liberalism” rather than realizing her (stated) intentions…
    • Perversely, Bhutto’s assassination is a perfect example of illiberality that gives Musharaff the license to enact repressive, authoritarian policy.
    • Given these similar goals but different assessments of the starting line, Musharraf sees himself as a Kemal Atatürk ; Bhutto saw herself as Indira Gandhi or Joan of Arc
  • Another difference stems from background – Musharraf came up to national leadership via the military while Bhutto through politics
    • If you believe the best hope for the country is to follow the “Turkish Model” [more info…] , the Pakistani military is comparatively more professional and a modernizing force relative to the rest of the civil service
    • So, arguably, Musharraf is potentially a more effective, less corrupt manager than a career politician.
      • of course, a “manager” and a “national leader” are 2 very different things
      • … as are “how well” you deploy power vs. “what you do with it”

This entry was posted in Uncategorized by vinod. Bookmark the permalink.

401 thoughts on “Benazir Bhutto Assassinated (Updated)”

  1. i’m on vacation in india, just watching coverage on ndtv. asma jehangir just broke down and said “damn the army” — mariana babar, editor of the news was just pointing out that the attack was near where her father, zulfikar bhutto was hanged, and where liaquat ali khan was assassinated.

    if this swings things towards sharif, well.. that’s awful. we live in interesting times, i suppose.

  2. Is anyone really surprised? Bhutto embraced her death when she decided to return the second time around – she was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.

  3. one particular point babar just made was that — the ppp party workers, a lot of them are in rawalpindi, and are very very die-hard, and that musharaff may not be able to handle their anger after her death. this seems to have shaken and shocked even non-supportive pakistanis.

  5. Will America ever learn its lesson…pumping billions in weapons and “anti-terrorism” funds into a savage dictatorship which has no clue nor intent to become a democracy. US foreign policy hypocrisy experiences a new low…

  7. I wouldn’t automatically blame Musharraf. The Paki Taliban and ilk have vowed to take over Pakistan and have been held responsible for a string of blasts in recent times.

  9. Wow, this is terrible.

    The Times reveals a bit more specific details:

    At least a dozen more people were killed. “At 6:16 p.m. she expired,” said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Ms. Bhutto’s party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was taken after the attack

  10. Indira Gandhi. Rajiv. Benazir Bhutto. When will it stop? When will assassinations become obsolete?

  11. “if this swings things towards sharif, well.. that’s awful. we live in interesting times, i suppose”

    jackal: there was an attack at Sharif’s rally as well today. Only a matter of time I suppose.

  12. 8 · jujung said

    she was apparently shot dead.. just before the blast..

    There was Gunfire at Nawab Shariff’s rally

  14. Indira Gandhi. Rajiv. Benazir Bhutto. When will it stop? When will assassinations become obsolete?

    Thats desi politics sadly. Add in Zia-Ul-Haq and Ranasinghe Premadasa (Sri Lankan).

  15. Interestingly, this incident occurred in the same park where Pak’s first PM, Liaqat Ali was assassinated in the 40s.

  16. 14 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said

    Indira Gandhi. Rajiv. Benazir Bhutto. When will it stop? When will assassinations become obsolete? Thats desi politics sadly. Add in Zia-Ul-Haq and Ranasinghe Premadasa (Sri Lankan).

    Don’t forget Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Hasina’s father in Bangladesh

  17. 16 · Suzzy said

    14 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said Indira Gandhi. Rajiv. Benazir Bhutto. When will it stop? When will assassinations become obsolete? Thats desi politics sadly. Add in Zia-Ul-Haq and Ranasinghe Premadasa (Sri Lankan). Don’t forget Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Hasina’s father in Bangladesh

    Julius Ceaser, Jesus Christ any one 😉

  18. Quote from Reuters item:

    The United States condemned an attack that killed Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, a US State Department official said on Thursday.

    “The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan,” the official said.

    No kidding…how about the idiot at the top?

  19. Poor Benazir. She is stupid to believe that Musharraf would provide security. Musharaff is a master of survival techniques.

  22. M-fer!!!

    I bet that this, either creates a huge wave of anti-Mushie sentiment, or a wave of anti-terrorism sentiment in Pakistan. I’d like to see how this get spinned.

  23. “Thats desi politics sadly. Add in Zia-Ul-Haq and Ranasinghe Premadasa (Sri Lankan).”

    And JFK.

  24. Thats desi politics sadly.

    If that’s really the reaction of most Pakistanis and other desi nations then they deserve the misery they create for themselves.

  25. while her killing is unfortunate for pakistan’s immediate future, lets not forget that she was a notorious kleptocrat, who had her own brother bumped off. how many think that mushy will postpone elections and use her death to consolidate power? i do.

  26. NDTV is reporting that she was shot twice, once in the head and once in the neck, and then the suicide bomber exploded himself. Bastards.

  28. I hope Mushy stays in power for another couple of years. Not that I am a great supporter of his brand of politics, he seems more stable to tackle internal problems and keep the nuclear weapons safe. If anything the general needs support both from outside and inside, which is clearly not going to happen.

    There is only one way for Pakistan to go from here…

  30. All my thoughts are with the people of Pakistan. I’m praying (however vainly) for the violence and hatred to stop.

  31. I can’t get a grip on whether this makes me more sad, angry, or apathetic. It’s as if the older one gets, the more evil and inhumanity one sees, the more cynical, unfeeling, & disengaged one is wont to become.

    Surprising? Probably not. I remember thinking or commenting to a friend when Bhutto’s motorcade was ambushed a few months ago that she will be lucky to not be killed sooner or later.

    One wonders if she truly felt she would be safe in Pakistan. Love of country and desire to contribute aside, is there some shred of a risk-taking thrill inherent in this endeavor she had embarked upon? Some level of martyrlike delusion, however deeply buried? Can any of us imagine being devoted enough to any political cause to risk our life so boldly? Was it worth it, Benazir?

    Truly sad. Whither Pakistan?

  32. To blame BB for her own death is like blaming Rajiv Gandhi for his own death. That’s how I feel. YMMV.

  33. This made me incredibly sad today. Hard to believe. Those Getty images are incredibly sobering. My deep wish for the new year is now that Pakistan doesn’t burn and this doesn’t spur on massive violence as it has the potential to.

  34. One of Pakistans newspapers says “30 killed in Rawalpindi, Bhutto included” what a shame on Pak media

  35. Just a warning to those who have weak stomachs (like me)..those Getty images aren’t an easy view.

  38. not the best of the thing during this tragedy but nevertheless history is repeating itself in “strange” ways in that region

    Soviet invasion then and US war on terror now golden temple then red mosque now emergency by indira then and emergency by mushrraf now assasination of indira then and benazir now

    wonder how much of this co-incidental and how much of this by design by ISI ?

  39. To blame BB for her own death is like blaming Rajiv Gandhi for his own death

    Agreed, though I never agreed with the politics of either Rajiv or Indira Gandhi I was saddened by the way they met their ends.

  40. lol…same thing I was gonna say! They quoted Ponniyin and someone and used one other that they did not credit.

    Congrats Guys! Keep up the good work!

  41. Topcat none of the pakistani newspapers online are carrying the news yet. Check pakistan times. wow

    The Dawn has had regular updates

  42. Really tragic news. The Getty images were unbelievable. I cannot believe what Pindi has come to…

  43. hey guys: just was watching CNN, and sepiamutiny and some of the comments were mentioned on television regarding bhutto….they were looking at a few online blogs…

  44. Does the PPP have an obvious successor to Bhutto? If so, this death could be used to benefit not just the party but the nation. You can assassinate an individual, you can’t assassinate that individual’s party.

  45. My heart sank when I woke up to this news. Extreme religions everywhere, including the US., ought to hang their heads in shame.

  46. If that’s really the reaction of most Pakistanis and other desi nations then they deserve the misery they create for themselves.

    except that innocent people are being affected as well. rediff is reporting that five bullets were fired, and, if as was said above, two hit her, then plausibly only three others would have died (of course, one bullet could have hit more than one person, but still….). instead, we have at least twenty other people dead because somebody thought a suicide bomber was also necessary. i won’t even try to surmise that ‘logic.’ but the fact is that even if we accept that she put herself in these circumstances, the others did not.

    btw were the gunshots and bomber working in tandem, or some crazy coincidence?

  49. The Dawn has had regular updates

    Dizzydesi, The Dawn is carrying a sentence saying, Benazir Bhutto Dies. wow. Compare that to BBC OR even TOI which screams in bold letters BENAZIR BHUTTO ASSASINATED

  50. Did you guys see SEPIAMUTINY.COM featured live on CNN a few minutes ago?

    By an African-American correspondent at the International Desk…

    She was QUOTING from several of YOUR POSTS! Including “someone,” “Candadai Tirumalai,” and “Ponniyin Selvan”…

    keep up the good work — but don’t be inflammatory just for the sake of it.

    THANKS,

    Kishan