28 December 2007


As is well known by now, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated yesterday when leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi. A gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb killing about 20 other people. Ms Bhutto, who had previously served had served as prime minister from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, had been campaigning as leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), ahead of elections on 8 January.

Her death was murder was a senseless act and will almost certainly be huge setback for stability in Pakistan. With Bhutto’s death can next month’s elections go ahead? Even if they do will they achieve anything now? Even though Al Qaeda has claimed that it was responsible for the attack, Musharraf will be the main target of anger – Bhutto’s murder took place in a secure garrison. If she was to be safe campaigning anywhere she should have been safe in Rawalpindi. It is likely to spur on anti-Musharraf campaigners. Musharraf may counter by re-imposing a state of emergency but this is likely to fan the flames of opposition. His goose looks like it is well and truly cooked whatever happens

The PPP is likely to be a major loser. Benazir Bhutto had large grass root support. Without her the PPP must surely be thrown into severe disarray, splitting into factions and thus becoming a far less potent political force.

Sadly it looks as if the only winners from this will be the Islamic extremists.

5 comments:

Agnes said...

We know what a support they have, don;t we....

jams o donnell said...

Ah Red, our jihadist "friends" over at a certain blog and chat room?

Garth said...

I'm afraid your analysis is a gross over-simplification - sorry Jams - pop over to Lenin's Tomb for a deeper and more view.

jams o donnell said...

I don't pretend it was a deep analysis. What did strike me is that Musharraf is screwed whatever happens next and Bhutto's murder leaves the PPP in disarray (there is no obvious heir apparent. There may well be another military coup. Whatever happens, I can't see anyone benefit but islamic extremists.

elasticwaistbandlady said...

You know what irks me and has every since the day after her death? A morning radio show on one of those FM stations that plays a mix of pop rock favorites had the host and his co-host stumbling over her name and then giggling about it before the host said, "Well, really this isn't a story that we should laughing over."

Really? No shit.

What rock have they been under that they couldn't pronounce her name? To make things worse, the one guy, Sam Malone, used to have a political talk show on talk radio in Houston. Now I know why he got the axe a few months ago and they yanked his ass back to mindless FM nonsense.