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The assassination of Benazir Bhutto took place when a gunman fired and a suicide bomber detonated as Bhutto was leaving the venue for the political party she led (the Pakistan People's Party) that took place in Rawalpindi on 27 December 2007. Bhutto was campaigning ahead of elections due in January 2008. She was declared dead at 18:16 PST (13:16 GMT), after being taken to Rawalpindi General Hospital. At least 16 people were confirmed dead in the aftermath; other conflicting reports indicate 20 bodies found at the scene.

Background

Bhutto had opted for self-exile while her cases remained pending in the Pakistani and foreign courts. After eight years in exile in Dubai and London, Bhutto returned to Karachi on 18 October 2007 to prepare for the 2008 national elections. She escaped an attack during this homecoming, but the attack left 134 people killed and hundreds wounded.

Earlier Assassination Attempts

En route to a rally in Karachi on 18 October 2007, two explosions occurred shortly after Bhutto had landed and left Jinnah International Airport. She was not injured but the explosions, later found to be a suicide-bomb attack, killed 136 people and injured at least 450. The dead included at least 50 of the security guards from her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who had formed a human chain around her truck to keep potential bombers away, as well as 6 police officers. A number of senior officials were injured. Bhutto was escorted unharmed from the scene.

Details

Benazir Bhutto had just addressed a rally of PPP supporters in the town of Rawalpindi when the rally was rocked by a blast. Bhutto was said to have been leaving the rally when the attack occurred. Current police reports state that one or more assassins fired at Bhutto's SUV just as she was about to drive off after the rally; when the assassin(s) failed, the gunman detonated next to her vehicle. It is currently unclear whether her death was caused by the blast itself or by shots fired by the assassins.

Rehman Malik, a security adviser for the Party, suggested that the killer opened fire as she left the rally, hitting her in the neck and chest, before detonating. He blamed the government for failing to protect Ms. Bhutto. Javed Cheema, an interior ministry spokesman, also stated that her injuries could have been caused by pellets packed in the bomb which acted as shrapnel.

She was taken unconscious to the Rawalpindi General Hospital. Although PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar initially said that Bhutto was safe, she was declared dead at 18:16 PST (13:16 GMT). 16-20 other people were killed in the attack, with bodies thrown across the park (Liaqat Bagh Park) where Bhutto had attended the rally.

Aftermath

After Bhutto's death, supporters wept and broke the hospital's glass doors, threw stones at cars, and reportedly chanted "Dog, Musharraf, dog" outside the hospital, referring to President Musharraf. Others attacked police, burned election campaign posters and tires. Some opposition groups said that the assassination could lead to civil war, and other commentators said that the upcoming elections will likely be postponed.

Demonstrations were widespread in Pakistan with the police using tear gas and batons to break angry demonstrators in Peshawar. Some protesters torched the billboards of Pervez Musharraf, firing in the air and screaming. Protests in Multan also had protesters burning tires and blocking traffic. Similar scenes were witnessed in Karachi, Bhutto's hometown.

Police in Sindh have been put on red alert.

Economic

The world price of oil and gold rose with news of the assassination, while U.S. stocks futures opened lower.

Reactions

Reaction in Pakistan

Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif was the first mainstream political leader to reach the hospital and express his solidarity with Bhutto's family and political workers, saying that he would "fight your war from now on" and that he shared the grief of "the entire nation".

PPP president Javaid Manzoor said "We are shocked. We are stunned. Every single one of us is mourning the loss of our leader," also stating that he believed that the next election, scheduled for January 8 would be canceled.

According to state television, Musharraf held an emergency cabinet meeting after he received word of the blast; he addressed the nation, imploring its people to stay calm "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated."

Despite extreme political enmity between two leaders during 1990s, both vowed to introduce politics of tolerance before returning from exile and had earlier signed the Charter of Democracy. After signing the charter, they said that they would work for an end to the rule of General Musharraf.

International reaction

•  France - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner referred to the assassination as a "odious act" and reaffirmed France's commitment to ensuring stability within Pakistan in the future.
•  India - A spokesman for the Prime Minister of India said, "In her death the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country,"
•  Iran - Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said, "We hope the Pakistani government will identify and bring to justice those behind such a criminal act and restore tranquility to the country."
•  Russia - Russia's foreign ministry condemned the attack, offered condolences to Ms Bhutto's family and said it hoped the Pakistani leadership would "manage to take necessary steps to ensure stability in the country".
•  Sweden - Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said in a press conference about an hour after the murder that he felt both disgusted and angry for what had happened, and also worried over the further consequences.
•  Vatican City - Vatincan Spokesman Frederico Lombardi said the attack shows how extremely difficult it is to pacify a nation so wrought by violence. And he also said they would share the sadness of the Pakistani population.
•  United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Miliband released a statement saying, "In targeting Benazir Bhutto, extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan. They cannot and must not succeed. This is a time for restraint but also unity." The leader of the opposition David Cameron has described Bhutto's killing as "appalling act of terrorism".
•  United Nations - The UN Security Council decided to discuss the assassination at a meeting that same day.
•  United States - U.S. President George W. Bush strongly condemned the assassination, urging her killers be brought to justice.

See also

• Terrorism in Pakistan

References

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4. ^ "Bhutto killed in suicide attack". Al Jazeera. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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7. "Supporters flock to Karachi for Bhutto's return". CBC News. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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9. Bowley, Graham (2007-10-20). "After Bombing, Bhutto Assails Officials' Ties". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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19. Merriman, Jane (2007-12-27). "Oil moves higher with gold after Bhutto killing". Reuters. EarthTimes.org. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
20. "U.S. stocks head for lower open". Thomson Financial. CNN. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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22. "'Democracy charter' for Pakistan". BBC. 2006-05-15. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
23. "L'attentant contre Bhutto vivement condamné". Le Figaro. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
24. Denyer, Simon (2007-12-27). "India calls Bhutto death terrible blow to democracy". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
25. "World leaders condemn Bhutto assassination". CNN. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
26. Hall, Thomas (2007-12-27). "Bildt: "Avsky och bestörtning"". DN.se. Retrieved 2007-12-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
27. "Reactions to Bhutto assassination". BBC. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
28. Croft, Adrian (2007-12-27). "UK urges restraint after Bhutto killing". Reuters. AlertNet. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
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31. "Bush condemns those killed Pakistan's Bhutto". Reuters. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2007-12-27.

External links

• Benazir Bhutto killed in attack (BBC News)
• http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/12/27/bpr.kahn.bhutto.dies.ap?iref=mpvideosview

• Current events from December 2007
• 2007 in Pakistan
• 2007 crimes
• Assassinations
• Terrorism in Pakistan
• Terrorist incidents in 2007