Pakistan: Reactions to Bhutto's death

Benazir Bhutto's death has come as a shock to many of the bloggers writing from and about Pakistan. While Bhutto's politics may be controversial, her assasinaton comes at a time when it was hoped that Pakistan could overcome the years of lapse of democracy.

At Metroblogging Islamabad, the post provokes some comments – from disbelief, to worry about the impending elections.

This is a sad day for Pakistan. Bhutto was not perfect, but at least she was for a democratic process. Democracy once again dies with her. Our condolences to the people of Pakistan from Metroblogging Mumbai.

Abu Muqawam states that while it is one thing to mourn the death of Benazir Bhutto, it is important to keep in mind the nature of her politics.

The folks on NBC, though, are making it sound as if Bhutto was some brave liberal alternative to the Musharraf regime, swallowing hook, line, and sinker this narrative that Benazir Bhutto was some kind of Pakistani Aung San Suu Kyi. Okay, folks, we all know she was eloquent, went to Harvard and Oxford and was a darling of the English-language media. But she was arguably the most corrupt woman in the history of South Asia.

While some bloggers expressing reservations about Benazir Bhutto being good for Pakistan, at All Things Pakistan, Adil Nijam writes that at this moment, the event is tragic at a very human level.

At a human level this is a tragedy like no other. Only a few days ago I was mentioning to someone that the single most tragic person in all of Pakistan – maybe all the world – is Nusrat Bhutto. Benazir’s mother. Think about it. Her husband, killed. One son poisoned. Another son assasinated. One daughter dead possibly of drug overdose. Another daughter rises to be Prime Minister twice, but jailed, exiled, and finally gunned down.

Today, in shock, I can think only of Benazir Bhutto the human being. Tomorrow, maybe, I will think of politics.

Chapati Mystery writes

In the nation whose history is dotted by military coups, assassinations and hangings of public figures, this is surely the bloodiest stain. She titled her autobiography, the Daughter of Destiny – but surely she deserved a fate other than the destiny of her father and Liaqut Ali Khan. It is truly a tragedy and a revelation of the chaos gripping the nation.

Pakistan Policy Blog provides details of how Bhutto was assassinated and some details on others who are critically injured. “The chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party was leaving Liaquat Park in Rawalpindi, where she was addressing a party rally, when an assassin fired 3-5 shots at her, one of which struck her in the neck. The assassin then blew himself up. Rehman Malik, Bhutto’s chief security adviser and Naheed Khan, a close Bhutto friend are critically injured. Over thirty others have been killed.”

As bloggers reflect on this tragedy, there are those who express worry that this could lead to violence and protests on the streets. Metroblogging Karachi reports that offices are being closed and people are rushing back home. A commenter states that gunfire can be heard outside. The Pakistani Spectator writes “In other areas of Rawalpindi like Faizabad, Saddar and Murree Road, angry crowd is burning shops and vehicles and shouting slogans against the terrorists.”

11 comments

  • Dave

    Bhutto’s killing was a very foreseeable event. It was obvious from the massive bomb that greeted her upon her initial return to Pakistan, which killed over 100, that her presence was not welcomed by some powerful people there.

    Let’s also not forget that we’re not dealing with some kind of virtuous person, in Bhutto. According to her own family, she had a lot to do with her own brother being killed, and no doubt many others. So, while I don’t wish death on anyone, Bhutto had plenty of blood on her own hands. Not to mention that she was viewed, probably rightly, as a tool of the U.S.

  • More on the reaction to Benazir Bhutto’s assassination…

    Accusations, riots, and political instability are among the immediate reactions to the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Here’s a roundup. Talking Points Memo: A longtime adviser and close friend of assassinated Pakistan…

  • Sander Fredman

    “The chickens come home to roost” was Malcolm X’s response when briefed on the JFK assassination.

  • a group of ‘brave’ men in Pakistan have assasinated a lone unarmed woman, and then blew up 20 innocent bystanders….

    It really doesn’t matter if she was a saint or a sinner — she was murdered – and the public nature of her murder and the ensuing brutal violence is as much to subjugate the people of Pakistan as it is to ‘fulfill’ an agenda.

  • Davy Chung & co. Solicitors

    This is a barbaric act of terrorism. The Pakistani people must realize that they have to take a united stand against these extremism, Otherwise, the country will be taken away from the path of progress.

  • Sander Fredman

    Cui bono? Those who wish to keep Pakistan destabilized. Does that change the country’s energy/food requirements? Do the people not need health care? Where and who are the big thinkers?

  • These individuals do not value human life. They are barbaric. Not only will they not stand together, they do not have a path to progress, because they do not want it. They are ruled by religion. In the mountains of Quetto, near Afganastan, CNN could not film because it was not “Islamic”, while the moran was holding an automatic weapon. They don’t have an infrastructure, nor do they want one. They can’t become united, they don’t agree on anything, and if they disagree, they kill each other. I do not believe they know what they are killing for. They blame all of there problems on someone else. Look in the MIRROR!!!!!!!!!!

  • Amos Kur

    Benazir Bhutto’s death comes to me as a shock although I knew it this could happen at anytime as she knew it her life was at risk but for the good of her country. As Richland student during her house arrest I made a commnent in Richland chronicle by saying that if Pakistan wants to be a real democratic government, they shouldn’t arrest opposition leaders. let them say what they want to say and Gen Pervez Musharraf shouldn’t a military leader and a president at the same time. I was glad to see Gen Pervez Musharraf taking off his military unifrom, lifting emergency rule and got swear in as a civilian leader. These were signs of democracy in Pakistan. With her death, my heart broke down. The enemies of peace and democracy think that killing is a solution to their problem but that is the beginning of their problem. Before Osama Bin Laden destroyed US embassy in Kenya, Tanzania, and Sept 11, 2001, he was not on the run as he is today with the whole world looking for him. I could say these peace haters had killed her but had not killed her Idealism(Love) of Peace and democracy. Benazir Bhutto gave her life for the freedom and peace of her people thinking that their wellbeing is more important than her own life and I think all Pakistanists Peace Lovers should realize that. On our human level Benazir Bhutto had succeed. She had everythings she wants in her life to live happy life, but the Bell of her people kept ringing.

  • Thanks for all the links. My heart goes out to those in Pakistan.

  • humanity

    Discrimination

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    IN GOD (Rib) WE TRUST WE HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY (Rabi).

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