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Download PDF Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated yesterday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at the end of a campaign rally, aides said.
The death of the 54-year-old charismatic former prime minister threw the campaign for the January 8 election into chaos and created fears of mass protests and an eruption of violence across the volatile south Asian nation.
The attacker struck just minutes after Benazir addressed a rally of thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 13km south of Islamabad. She was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then blew himself up, said, Rehman Malik, Benazir’s security adviser.
At least 20 others were killed in the attack.
Benazir was rushed to the hospital and taken into emergency surgery.
“At 6:16 pm she expired,” said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Benazir’s party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital.
“The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred,” Benazir’s lawyer Babar Awan said.
Benazir’s supporters at the hospital exploded in anger, smashing the glass door at the main entrance of the emergency unit. Others burst into tears. One man with a flag of Benazir’s Pakistan People’s Party tied around his head was beating his chest.
Some at the hospital began chanting, “Killer, Killer, Musharraf,” referring to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Benazir’s main political opponent. A few began stoning cars outside.
“We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests,” Malik said.
Pakistan police used tear gas and batons to break up an angry demonstration Thursday in the city of Peshawar after the assassination of Benazir, an AFP reporter on the scene said.
More than 100 angry Bhutto supporters blocked the main trunk road in the northwestern city, torching billboards and posters of the main party behind President Pervez Musharraf, a Bhutto rival, before police moved in.
Nawaz Sharif, another former premier and opposition leader, arrived at the hospital and sat silently next to Benazir’s body. Earlier on Thursday, four people were killed at a rally for Sharif when his supporters clashed with backers of Musharraf near Rawalpindi.
Pak President Pervez Musharraf appealed to the nation to remain peaceful Thursday after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto “so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated,” state TV said.
Musharraf was holding an emergency meeting at the presidency Thursday with top officials after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, state television said.
It said Musharraf had ordered the meeting to “consider all aspects of the tragic national incident”.
In Washington, the State Department said it was seeking confirmation of Benazir’s condition.
“Certainly, we condemn the attack on this rally,” deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. “It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy.”
The United States has for months been encouraging Musharraf to reach an accommodation with the opposition, particularly Bhutto, who was seen as having a wide base of support in Pakistan. Her party had been widely expected to do well in parliamentary elections set for next month.
Benazir served twice as Pakistan’s prime minister between 1988 and 1996. She had returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile on Oct. 18. On the same day, her homecoming parade in Karachi was also targeted by a suicide attacker, killing more than 140 people. On that occasion she narrowly escaped injury.
At the scene of the bombing, an Associated Press reporter saw body parts and flesh scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park where Benazir had spoken. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded people.
Party supporter Chaudry Mohammed Nazir said that two gunshots rang out when Benazir’s vehicle pulled into the main street and then there was a big blast next to her car.
Police cordoned off the street with white and red tape, and rescue workers rushed to put victims in ambulances as people wailed nearby.
The clothing of some of the victims was shredded and people put party flags over their bodies. Police caps and shoes littered the asphalt.
Hundreds of riot police had manned security checkpoints to guard the venue. It was Benazir’s first public meeting in Rawalpindi since she came back to the country.
In November, Benazir had also planned a rally in the city, but Musharraf forced her to cancel it, citing security fears.
In recent weeks, suicide bombers have repeatedly targeted security forces in Rawalpindi, a city near the capital where Musharraf stays and the Pakistan army has its headquarters.
Benazir’s spokesman said Thursday no decision would be made on when the assassinated former premier’s funeral would be held until her husband returned to Pakistan from Dubai.
Asif Zardari was urgently awaiting a flight back to Pakistan to return as soon as possible, spokesman Farhatullah Babar told state television.
“So far a programme for the funeral has not been decided. We are awaiting Mr Zardari and a decision about the funeral will be taken after that,” he said. (AP, AFP)
December 28th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
In the name of ALLAH ,The Beneficient, The merciful.
This is the true Example of Shahadath!Real Shahid.
She went in innocent manner to deliver her lectures & meet people in a peaceful manner, but she was assasinated.
She did not go with Guns to kill others & therefore according to Islam She is a true Shahid
& ALLAH SWT may award mercy to her.
Further, according to Islam , the body of Shahid does not decay & also the bodies of All Holy Prophets remain intact.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH ordered the earth not to touch the body of Holy Prophets & Shahids.But All Shahid must have faith in ALLAH & Holy Prophets & Holy Scriptures!
Many of our Muslims are unaware that Saint Barnabas The disciples of Hazrat Isa who lived all along with him in the final hour, was asked by Holy Isa to write the Statements of Hazrat Isa & what Saint Barnabas himself had seen .
In his Gospel He truly described how Hazrat ISA was taken in to Heaven by Angels & Juda who was his enemy was turned in to appearence of ISA
who was crucified before the Crucifiction Hazrat Isa was taken away bodily by Angels as witnessed by Barnabas.
The Gospel of Barnabas was written in first century but remained unknown for the fear of Roman
&Jews highpriests ,the enemies of Hazrat Isa.
The Saint Barbanas was propagating the truth & was telling how Mohammed (MSAS) last prophet will come.
He was assasinated & received Shahadat.
He was engraved in Cyprus & when by chance his
grave was unearthed,His relic (Body was unmarked as fresh) & His gospel found on his chest.
His Gospel was transalated in Italic from Armenic, But when The highpriests found it contained unJewish informtion & contain the
name of HOLY MOhammed(MSAS). Gospel was never published & was rejected , Luckily a copy
was found in the Pope V ’s library in 500 century
& now retained in the library of Vienna.
The Shahid is not eaten by earth or insect for
the Gospel of Barnabas stands as a true witness
that Mohammed(MSA) is the blessing to Mankind by the will of ALLAH SWT. He Must have been a real saint & Shahid.
Thank you.