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Journalism of Courage
8226; Benazir Bhutto8217;s brutal assassination further complicates matter in an already tumultuous Pakistan. It throws the country into further chaos, uncertainty and a period of undemocratic rule for the near future. Bhutto, the charismatic leader of the Pakistan People8217;s Party, was seen as the only credible moderate leader that could have ended the chaos witnessed under the Musharraf regime. The entire world had anticipated that the January 8 elections would see Bhutto become prime minister for the third time. That hope was cut short by the fateful turn of events at Liaquat Bagh, the very place where another former prime minister, Liaqat Ali Khan, was assassinated in 1951. The complex political history of Pakistan seems to be going into another tailspin, with one half of the famed democratic duo of Sharif and Bhutto, falling tragically to the assassin8217;s bullets.
8212; Karan Thakur New Delhi
Karma catches up
8226; It is indeed a tragedy that a leader that stood for democracy was assassinated in our neighbouring country. At such a time Pakistan needs a democratically elected leader through free and fair elections and it also needs a civilian government that is not under military influence. While there is a great deal written about Bhutto8217;s work and achievements, two key facts are often overlooked. First, while in power in 1996, Benazir helped the Taliban, both financially and through military aid. Second, she was a ruler riddled with corruption cases. The only reason for Benazir to take an anti-extremist stand in the past year or so was to be, as some put it, 8220;the darling of the West8221;. In the end, even in death it is important to look at what individuals did when they had the power to make changes.
8212; Kumar Shah Delhi
Pak in cleft stick
8226; Although the Al-Qaeda and Taliban have claimed to have assassinated Benazir Bhutto, I cannot but believe that those in Pakistan8217;s present establishment are directly or indirectly involved. Remember Pakistanis today are being governed8217; by the ISI on one hand, and by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda on the other. Given this incident, I doubt whether the country will be able to breathe the free air of democracy for another half century.
8212; Hansraj Bhat Mumbai
Second Indira
8226; The assassination of Benazir Bhutto by religious extremists or the Pakistan establishment must be condemned by one and all. Her death marked a black day in the history of the country. Benazir was the Indira Gandhi of Pakistan, a courageous woman, who could have helped restore democracy. Democracy and politics like the poles of a magnet cannot come together and Benazir8217;s sad killing goes to prove that.
8212; S.N. Kabra
Mumbai
Country8217;s unity
8226; Benazir Bhutto is no more with us but her legacy, like that of her father, will dictate Pakistan8217;s politics and future. In her assassination all her 8216;sins8217;, past 8216;deeds8217;, 8216;deals8217; and 8216;weaknesses8217; are washed away. She will be remembered as a symbol for resistance, democracy and a champion of human rights. I hope she is presented as a popular Pakistani leader killed by unknown assassins rather than a Sindhi leader killed in Punjab, as already declared by some Sindhi nationalists. Sind nationalists are already using the 8216;Sind card8217; to push against the federation of Pakistan, and cite the fact that a popular Sindhi prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged, and another Benazir was twice deposed, and yet another potential leader Murtaza Bhutto was assassinated by the Punjabi-dominated establishment.
8212; Shabir Choudhry
Chairman, diplomatic committee, JKLF
