Currently, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto by suicide bombing has already lowered Mr. Musharraf’s public standing which is already low as it is. It was a day where Ms. Bhutto was leaving a campaign rally in downtown Rawalpindi. She stuck her head out from the moonroof of the armor-plated vehicle. A gunman runs up to her and fills the vehicle with holes and then blows himself up in a suicide bomb attack ending Ms. Bhutto’s life.
But she had died instantaneous by the gunfire. At least the lives of 11-20 have been lost in the blast that came after.
Her death could possibly strike a fatal blow to the democratic aspirations of the country. Upon returning from the self-imposed 8-year exile in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Bhutto’s return gave new life and hope into the pro-democracy forces of Pakistan. To those forces, Ms. Bhutto was considered to be the lifeline of transforming the military-dominated system to something that was more democratic.
She was set to help the many Pakistanis who have not reaped the benefits of the growth rate of Pakistan’s economy. Regardless of what are considered to be her faults and weaknesses, Ms. Bhutto was deemed a champion of democracy and human rights. She was also a strong advocate in combating Islamic militarism.
It is believed that these are the same ones responsible for her assassination. The West felt she could work with Musharraf who is unpopular along with increasing political stability of the country along with rallying opposition to the radical Islamists such as Al-Qaeda sympathizers.
Before her return, Baitullah Mehsud who is a powerful tribal leader who is both pro-Taliban and pro-Al Qaeda had made a vow to greet her with suicide bombers. He denied the attack on Bhutto’s motorcade when she returned in October. She was a major political threat by both the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
While the extremists are more than likely to be responsible for her death, it will be more than likely that the Pakistan People’s Party will blame Musharraf and his administration for her death. There has been anti-regime rioting taking place in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad as a result of Bhutto’s assassination.
One of Bhutto’s stalwarts has openly and publicly blamed Musharraf’s administration. The stalwart was quoted anonymously: “She told Musharraf this could happen before she came [back from exile, and] he laughed it off. [Pakistanis] know who is to blame for this.”
Many of Bhutto’s supporters along with Musharraf’s opponents will say the administration agencies under his control were responsible because she was deemed a threat to his presidential survival. After overthrowing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999, Musharref had remained in power since then.
However, it looks unlikely that Musharraf could gone this far. His already low public standing has dropped even more. His ability to govern the country is being called to question as a result of Bhutto’s assassination. Her death could possibly mean the death of Musharraf’s presidency and his political actions in the future. That is if the popular mood in the heat of her death swiftly turns against Musharraf and his administration.