RAWALPINDI — Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack on Thursday, just two months after the former premier returned from exile for a political comeback.
Bhutto, a two-time former prime minister, had just addressed a campaign rally for next month’s parliamentary elections when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the venue, killing her and at least 10 other people.
There were unconfirmed reports that the attacker had also opened fire on her with a weapon before the explosion.
“It may have been pellets packed into the suicide bomber’s vest that hit her,” interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema told AFP.
It was the second suicide attack at a Bhutto event since she had returned from exile in October, aiming to contest the elections, and comes amid an unprecedented wave of violence in the country.
The deadliest terror attack in Pakistan’s history targetted her homecoming rally just hours after her return, leaving 139 people dead.
After that attack, authorities repeatedly warned her they had information that Islamic militants were trying to killer her.
Government officials said President Pervez Musharraf had been privately told of her death.
The killing will deepen the political crisis in Pakistan, where Islamic militants have vowed to disrupt the vote and Musharraf’s opponents — including Bhutto — accused him of planning to rig the result.
There have been more than 40 suicide attacks in Pakistan this year that have left at least 770 people dead.
Bhutto, educated at Oxford and Harvard, became the first female prime minister of a Muslim country when she took the helm in Pakistan in 1988. Her father, also a Pakistani prime minister, was also assassinated, in 1979.
Recalling how she stood at his grave, Bhutto once wrote: “At that moment I pledged to myself that I would not rest until democracy had returned to Pakistan.”
She had repeatedly accused President Musharraf of being dictator and had been campaigning with fierce criticisms of what she said was his autocratic rule, vowing her Pakistan People’s Party would deliver democracy.
Her killing was immediately condemned by the United States, which counts Pakistan as a pivotal ally in the US-led “war on terror”.
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Tags: al qaeda, assassinated, Benazir, Benazir Bhutto, Bhutto, Bombing, Emergency, Islamabad, killed, pindi, PPP, rawalpindi, sucide bomber, Suicide, Taliban
33 responses so far ↓
1 Editor X // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:25 pm
This is really tragic and outrageous news. It is still a mystery as to who did this. PML-Q? Musharraf? Taliban?
2 louise kramer // Dec 27, 2007 at 11:38 pm
i am stunned by the assasination of ms bhutto - what a terrible waste of life and a tragedy for pakistan
3 Ali // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:23 am
Yes its really tragic..
After all Madam Bhutto had a family of her own , her kids ( they dint do anything) .
May God Rest Her Soul Rest In Peace
4 rani // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:24 am
we are too much sad to see that horibal seen and can not explain our feeling that what we feel for her. she was a great leader of pakistanis and we never forget her.she was great. we pray to GOD please bless her much more and give her peace in her grave.
5 Ahsan Rafique // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:32 am
I am very shocked by the assasination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It is a great loss for pakistsni politics, as well as we lost a very good leadership.
6 Shafiq zaib Baloch // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:54 am
We are feeling very sad When we saw this incedent i uterlly surprised . We love Benazir Butoo and We love her Leading…. because she was goog leader of PPP and she was good for everyone…. once again we love her…… we never forget her.We lost a very good leadership…We will pray to God please bless her much more and give her peace in her grave…………………Miss U Butoo…………………..
7 Shafiq zaib Baloch // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:58 am
We are Missing U ………….
Shaheed Benazir Butto………….
//////From…. Shafiq zaib Baloch… Balochistan nushki……………………..
8 Sana // Dec 28, 2007 at 1:01 am
I was never a Benazir Bhutto fan but I must say that this act was unnecessary and completely inhumane. It was cruel and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family, especially her children. May Allah help them out through this nightmare.
9 Shafiq zaib Baloch // Dec 28, 2007 at 1:17 am
Hum Bhutoo Family ke Gham mai brabar ke shareek hai aur Hum Allah se dhua kertai hai ke Allah Maroom ko apne jawar rehmat mai sabr o jameel atha fermaie… aur maroom ko janath naseeb fermaie………..(Ameen)
10 M.Salman Ali // Dec 28, 2007 at 2:05 am
I ain’t a fan of Benazir Bhutto but i feel really very bad to hear that she is no more with us.
that’s a fact that she was the great and senior politician of our country.
11 Sufi // Dec 28, 2007 at 3:43 am
May God rest her soul in peace. We have lost a caring and loving mother-a mother who loves her kids very much.
A great tragedy-a carnage,this country is facing. This country is plunging into the deep deep trouble. Only God can rescue us from this inferno.
12 bharat // Dec 28, 2007 at 7:46 am
political rivelry
13 adilgahffar // Dec 30, 2007 at 1:11 am
we are too much sad to see that horibal seen and can not explain our feeling that what we feel for her. she was a great leader of pakistanis and we never forget her.she was great. we pray to GOD please bless her much more and give her peace in her grave.
14 Gulzar Abro // Dec 30, 2007 at 11:12 pm
it is a wrath of God almighty on who committed suicide bombing against the great daughter of brave zulfiqar.being sindhi we are greatly shocked by her myrtradom.
15 Abdul Razak Sheikh // Dec 31, 2007 at 8:20 am
Pope on his Xmas address said that Pakistan is a tortured country.Pakistan mourns and simmers with anger.
16 Sufi // Dec 31, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Pakistan has become fertile groud of killer,mercinaries,mudrers,thugs,terrorists,redicals,religious fanatics,ruthless generals,cold blooded notorious spy agencies,Al-Qaeed,Taliban and above the US Neo-Cons. Everything in this country is possible without doubt.
So the assassination of former PM in cold blooded manner shows the tendecy of the people who are invincible and invisible.
Till the complete disintegration of this country the same bloody game will prvail. God knows what will be the fate of this country.
17 ejaz asghar // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:28 am
Why this happens in pakistan?
18 ejaz asghar // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:29 am
Why this happens in pakistan only?
19 ejaz asghar // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:33 am
can anybody save pakistan from this dire situation.
20 shafaat // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:36 am
I think nobody can bring out pakisatn safely from this dire situation.
21 ejaz asghar // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:41 am
I think shafaat is right.
22 Razak Sindhi // Jan 5, 2008 at 10:23 am
President Musharif recently declared that army and Rangers have been called in to safeguard fair elections.Actually they are going to assist in rigging.The have already started harrasing PPP activist.
23 ABUBAKAR // Jan 18, 2008 at 1:32 pm
YEP
I WAS DEADLY AGAINST THE BANZEER BECAUSE OF CURRUPTION BUT THE ASSENATION OH MY ALLH IT IS A GERAT SHE WAS BLESSED BY THE LEADERSHIP BY ALLAH ,AND SHE WAS THE MOTHER ,SISTER N A LIFE
REALLY IT IS BIGGEST LOSS OF PAKISTAN
24 ABUBAKAR // Jan 18, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Y I FEEL INSULT WHEN I SAY IM PAKISTENI IN ABROAD ?
25 ABUBAKAR // Jan 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I WORKED HARD BECAUSE I TOUGHT THAT WE HAVE TO LIGHT THE NAME OF PAKISTAN BUT , WHERE Z MY FALT Y IM INSULTED . PLZ PLZ PLZ DONNT DO IT PLZ ITS OUR PAKISTAN
900 CARS BURNT Y ?
ENGINES BURNT MANY ?
THAT ARE ALL MINE OFCOURSE MY PAKISTAN
OH MY GOD
I LOVE PAKISTAN
26 tahir // Feb 21, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I love pakistan
27 Mian Tariq // Feb 23, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I am here in dubai. and i am proudly saying to anyone that i belong from pakistan. but when i see his/her reaction. so that time i feel very shame. and then i give comments about our mother land. i love my country Pakistan. But pakistan image is not good because of some people. some terrorist.
and benazir dealth. this is so bad for all over the world. and i am very sad for my great leader . And she is my favourite. And i am very very very happy that pppp leads once again in this election. and i am also praying from my god. that terminate to President Mushariff from his president seats. coz he is not good for pakistan,.
28 Irfan Ahmed Soomro // Mar 30, 2008 at 7:47 am
Rani parichta thi pakistan kay liye who rahmut ban kar ahi thi from soomro_iro@yahoo.com
29 I love pakisten because we are from pakisten // Sep 24, 2008 at 9:26 am
Oh my country
I miss you.
My eye see you.
My mind call you.
My heart say you
I would die without you because i am from you.
30 I love pakisten because we are from pakisten // Sep 24, 2008 at 9:44 am
Oh my country
i miss you.
My eye see you.
My mind call you.
My heart say you.
I would die without you, because i am from you.
31 Saud Khan // Sep 24, 2008 at 10:22 am
Oh my country
I miss you.
My eye see you.
My mind call you.
My
32 M.Naeem Rafique // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:24 am
Salam.
This time Pakistan need Hameed Gull.
Pakistan no need relation with India,Pakistan need relation with other neighbor countries.
33 sumiyah // Jan 19, 2010 at 8:48 pm
this time pakistan need our shahedd leader benazir butto …….n zulfiqar ali butto ….koi b in jaisa nahi aya aj tak……..in k hote hue hue pakistan ko koi buri aankh se nahi dekh sakta tha…ab b nahi dekh sakta……ABHI AMERICAN DOG MUSHARRAF KA GHAND SAAF KARNE MEIN THORA TIME LAGE GA….JO KEHTA THA K HUM NE KASHKOOL THOOR DYA HAI JHOOTHA DARPOOK…AGER APNE MUL SE PYAR HTA TO IS TARAH DONO KUTTE MUSHARRAF,OR ALTAF HUSSAIN BAHIR CHORON KI TARAH NA REHTE,,,,,,,BALK HMARI MERI SHAEED LEADER KI TARAH KHATRON KA MUKABALA KARTE ,,,BUT IN MEIN ITNA DUM KAHAN HAI….WO SHAEED BENAZIR BUTTO THIN..I M STILL CRY FOR MY BB……..SHE IS THE RAY OF LIGHT FOR ME N MY COUNTRY PAKISTAN…………JYE BUTTO …..SADA JYE………………….AJ B BUTTO ZINDA HAI KAL B BUTTO ZINDA TTHA………………..ZINDA HAI BB..ZINDA HAI……….SADA JYE
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