Benazir Bhutto has died. Mrs Bhutto had just addressed a rally Rawalpindi when she was shot in the chest and neck by nothing more than a coward. After he had shot her he then detonated his suicide belt sealing Benazir Bhuttos fate. Whilst I may have political differences with Benazir Bhutto the manner of her death is utterly repugnant. This latest episode is just another reminder that Pakistan is in immense political turmoil and the West needs to do all it can to support the re birth of democracy in Pakistan. However I fear that with President Musharraf still in the Presidential Palace… this end cannot be achieved.
27/12/2007 at 21:18 |
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is, with no doubt, a tragic event. Her commitment to democracy and reform in Pakistan can scarcely be questioned.
That said, it is important to recognise that Bhutto was arguably as much a divisive figure in Pakistan, as she was a uniting one. Some of the deadly increases in violence over the last 6 months can certainly be attributed to her return to the country, along with her sometimes irresponsible challenges to the authority of the Musharraf government.
As sad as today’s events are, I hope desperately that Pakistan does not deteriorate further. Beyond this, I hope elections go ahead, and that Musharaff continues to guide Pakistan down a moderate course to democracy.
27/12/2007 at 23:52 |
I quite agree which is why I particularly stated “Whilst I may have political differences with Benazir Bhutto…” I believe her return to the country was a mistake due to the obvious hostility and indifference she recieved from Musharraf. Her return as you rightly point out was adding more fuel to the already burning fires of extremisim and political division in Pakistan.
Pervez Musharraf is in a tricky position and my opinions of him are yet to be fully decided. I once viewed him as a “flower in a garden of weeds” a man who we could be proud to call an ally… now i look and i think is this a man standing up for democracy or a man doing all he can to cling o to power? I contest the notion that Musharraf is leading Pakistand down a moderate path. The fact remains he has suspended the constitution and continued to evade elections. Pakistan is a military dictatorship which ever way we jazz it up. Musharraf has had his time, done his but and for the most part he has done well.
Bhutto, Sharif or some other pro democracy leader should have replaced him far sooner. Musharraf can no longer lead his people effectively. Pakistan needs a new leader… one with a similar outlook to Musharraf but without his “baggage” which makes it nye impossible for him to lead. For now the assassination of Bhutto is as tragic as it is ironic.
Regardless of political differences no one has the right to end life.
28/12/2007 at 13:32 |
I’m not sure that Bhutto’s return to Pakistan was a mistake.
It may well turn out that her assassins achieve exactly the opposite of what they intended. By removing Benazir Bhutto they clearly intended a change in the course of Pakistan. However, history shows that removing political opponents is a counter-productive attempt to do so.
We could, for example, have assassinated Hitler during the second world war, but made the pragmatic decision not to. Terrorists on the other hand, lack such subtlety in their thinking. Their hatred and need for revenge leads them to short-termist options, the outcomes of which are much of a gamble.
Bhutto after all, led the most popular political movement in the country, and while she may be easy to kill, her movement is not. And now her supporters have a martyr around which they can galvanise.
Bhutto knew her return would cause widespread violence, and that she might be killed. But her’s was a long-term strategy, which she hoped would outlast the short-termism of the terrorists. And it was probably on this basis that she returned.
28/12/2007 at 14:54 |
I do believe Bhutto should have returned to Pakistan at some point but her timing was a mistake… she should either have returned sooner or further down the line rather than right in the midst of such troubles. In regard to WWII… we tried to assasinate Hitler. Many times.
28/12/2007 at 16:00 |
I was referring to a decision made by Churchill in 1944, when an opportunity was presented to assassinate Hitler. Churchill refused to sanction the attempt, partly on the grounds that it would be counter-productive. This aside, I’m making the broader point that political assassinations often achieve the opposite result to that intended.
Moreover, I’m sure that Bhutto returned exactly when she wanted. It’s not a decision she would have taken lightly.