Benazir Bhutto killed in attack

[Condell]

Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide bombing that killed at least 14 of her supporters, ex-government spokesman Tariq Azim Khan and Pakistan's primary television networks said.

Bhutto was shot in the neck and chest as she was entering her vehicle, and then the bomber blew himself up.
The former prime minister died in Rawalpindi General Hospital, where she had been rushed to surgery.

"At 6:16 p.m. she expired," said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party who was at the hospital.

Her supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog," referring to Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf.

more here: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/as...rif/index.html

[Marie Louise von Preussen]

I am shocked, to say the least. What a loss, I really admired her and her biography.

[Siblesz]

Oh, ****. Things just get worse and worse in Pakistan. This is horrible news. I don't think Musharraf will like this even a bit. He wants stability above all else, and this turn of events will not provide much stability for Pakistan. This was probably done by Al Qaeda, or a splinter group inside the ISI.

Again, terrible news to hear. Let's hope the fallout is not too horrible.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

Everyone's utterly shocked here, even those that didn't support her will surely be saddened by this. Bhutto was a national leader - a Sindhi in a mostly Punjabi country, a Shi'ite in a mostly Sunni country and a woman in a male-dominated society and despite all that, her popularity transcended everything and she was seen as someone who'd take Pakistan out of the mess it is in now.

A leader of her caliber can't be found anywhere in Asia, let alone the greater Middle-East.

The problem now is that no one will own up to the attacks. Not the Swati militants, not the Mehsud tribe and not even the local Taliban will claim this.

I just got back home from a very exhaustive International Relations exam and when I switched on my TV, the reporters were talking about the blast but it was said Bhutto had been injured only. A few minutes later, the caption said, "Bhutto killed". For a few seconds, I didn't know what to think.

Hers was the only truly secular party in the country and her loss to Pakistan is beyond words. It seemed as though she had learned her lessons from the 90's and this time, she came back not for power but for the country. What's the world going to think of us now? What will people abroad think when the word "Pakistan" comes up now? We can't even hold our own elections.

[Ahiga]

Everyone's utterly shocked here, even those that didn't support her will surely be saddened by this. Bhutto was a national leader - a Sindhi in a mostly Punjabi country, a Shi'ite in a mostly Sunni country and a woman in a male-dominated society and despite all that, her popularity transcended everything and she was seen as someone who'd take Pakistan out of the mess it is in now.

A leader of her caliber can't be found anywhere in Asia, let alone the greater Middle-East.

The problem now is that no one will own up to the attacks. Not the Swati militants, not the Mehsud tribe and not even the local Taliban will claim this.

I just got back home from a very exhaustive International Relations exam and when I switched on my TV, the reporters were talking about the blast but it was said Bhutto had been injured only. A few minutes later, the caption said, "Bhutto killed". For a few seconds, I didn't know what to think.

Hers was the only truly secular party in the country and her loss to Pakistan is beyond words. It seemed as though she had learned her lessons from the 90's and this time, she came back not for power but for the country. What's the world going to think of us now? What will people abroad think when the word "Pakistan" comes up now? We can't even hold our own elections.

Well, the nature that you guys were so willing to support her should still speak volumes. I mean having a female prime minister in a Muslim country is pretty surprising. When an American (Even I) hear Pakistan we don't really think inroads to female rights...yet you guys had a female in a high position of power, something not even Secular Turkey has yet had [heck, we haven't had a female president yet!] Even more so, you supported her in large numbers.

Sadly, I don't think this is going to go away mildly.

[leeho730]

Well, the nature that you guys were so willing to support her should still speak volumes. I mean having a female prime minister in a Muslim country is pretty surprising. When an American (Even I) hear Pakistan we don't really think inroads to female rights...yet you guys had a female in a high position of power, something not even Secular Turkey has yet had.

I suppose we have encountered a common misconception about Muslims here.

There are a good number of female political leaders in Islam and in Muslim-majority countries:

President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia;
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan;
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh;
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh;
Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, Turkey.

Probably you might need to look into your own country (I assume you're from USA?), who has not produced female head of the state yet.

It is mostly due to hard-line fundamentalism of Iran and some Islamic fundamentalist groups that give other Muslims bad names. Majority of Arab (and possibly Persian) Muslims and most of non-Arab Muslims in Asia are quite secular. It is also interesting to mention Grand Ayatollah Ali Khameini actually authorised stem cell research and therapeutic cloning.

Things aren't as simple as black and white in this world...

[Ahiga]

I suppose we have encountered a common misconception about Muslims here.

There are a good number of female political leaders in Islam and in Muslim-majority countries:

President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia;
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan;
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh;
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh;
Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, Turkey.

Probably you might need to look into your own country (I assume you're from USA?), who has not produced female head of the state yet.

It is mostly due to hard-line fundamentalism of Iran and some Islamic fundamentalist groups that give other Muslims bad names. Majority of Arab (and possibly Persian) Muslims and most of non-Arab Muslims in Asia are quite secular. It is also interesting to mention Grand Ayatollah Ali Khameini actually authorised stem cell research and therapeutic cloning.

Things aren't as simple as black and white in this world...

Well the news I was watching said Bhutto was the first.

Khameini actually did that?

They said it again! "First Woman to lead a modern muslim nation" or something. Now I remember why I stopped watching MSNBC. Stupid pretty women anchors prattling on as if they know anything worth a damn

[Last Roman]

Probably you might need to look into your own country (I assume you're from USA?), who has not produced female head of the state yet.

he does address that

[leeho730]

Well the news I was watching said Bhutto was the first.

Khameini actually did that?

Bhutto: since 1988.

Ali Khameini: according to Boston times. He approved programme six months after President Bush sharply restricted US government funding for such work. Ali Khameini probably had thought that since stem cell research had been restricted in US, Iran could make money by researching it, knowing that the biggest research giant in the world would not be competing.

So, it proves one of my hypothesis: it's all to do with money and influence, religion only serving as an excuse.

he does address that

Forgot he was editing it....

[God-Emperor of Mankind]

Sad news.
How big are the chances that Musharraf is behind this ??

[Siblesz]

Sad news.
How big are the chances that Musharraf is behind this ??

Zero to none. Musharraf might be dictatorial (and quite so), but he's a nationalist, and he's not stupid.

[Hunter Makoy]

i'd say none, however he will certainly be blamed for wat happened, IMO. he's in his emergancy meeting right now, so hopefully something good will come out of that. the country seems to be moving in the opposite direction of wat he has been trying to do lately. and i dont think this will help his popularity too much. but i dont know much about Bhutto.

[The Fish]

Ironic that the very radicals Bhutto encouraged during her tenure in power have now done her in; we all reap what we sow, I suppose.

[danzig]

Yeah I doubt Musharraf had anything to do with this in one of the few times Ill agree with Sib, he isnt stupid he is a nationalist above all else and he knows the impact of her death would be with blame being on him. This reeks of Islamist/AQ/Bin Laden types to spark a violent clash between Bhutto and Musharraf factions and allowing them to take advantage of it. Definitely a very troubling turn of events.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Oh dear.

[Ummon]

The clock ticks on.

[Panzerbear]

1) I am not surprised. She knew she was targeted by at least multiple different groups and she knew what she was doing. Oh well, its a shame she lasted only 2 months.
2) It is definitely not Musharaf. but I am sure as hell he will go through another stage of harsh criticism.

[Snoopy]

1) I am not surprised. She knew she was targeted by at least multiple different groups and she knew what she was doing. Oh well, its a shame she lasted only 2 months.
2) It is definitely not Musharaf. but I am sure as hell he will go through another stage of harsh criticism.

Agreed. +rep

[Dr. Croccer]

Ah crap. Here we go again.

[Matty_P]

This is hugely unfortunate. Bhutto was a great woman in Pakistan and in the world.

This will be bad for Pakistan. It'll further destabilize the country.