The Pakistani population in the United States is at least a half-million. Most of them live in New York and New Jersey. This is according to Adil Najam, a professor at Boston University. While the international community condemns Bhutto’s assassination, Pakistani’s across the United States have been struck hard.
“I imagine this is how the people of this country felt after Kennedy’s assassination,” according to Syed Hassan who had moved to the United States from Pakistan twenty years ago. He added: “When these kind of things happen, it just shatters you.” Syed Hassan currently resides in Pakistan.
Mian Zahid Ghani, a resident of New Brunswick, New Jersey was a former jourlanist with a Pakistani news agency. He said that Bhutto’s death would force the upcoming elections to be canceled.
Mr. Ghani adds that many will blame President Pervez Musharraf for her death along with the chaos and unrest that followed after. “It has already started today. There might be a civil war. Musharraf should be planning his exit,” he explains.
New York City Michael Bloomberg had deplored her assassination in a statement released on Thursday. The city had increased security outside the Pakistani consulate located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They also increased security for the U.N. ambassador.
Abid Asghar, a waiter wearing a Yankees cap said he was worried about the aftermath of Bhutto’s death.
“This is very bad for Pakistan’s image abroad,” Asghar said. He adds: “In Pakistan, it’s sad to say, there is no tolerance.” Asghar emigrated from Pakistan twelve years ago.
“She was the only hope for Pakistan,” said 54-year old Syed Raza, who lives in Chicago as a cab driver. He was like many Pakistani-Americans, talking on the phone with friends and relatives.
Syed’s wife and three children were in Karachi when the assassination took place.
“There’s big chaos there,” he explains. He adds: “I’m very worried about my wife and kids.”
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