Benazir Bhutto - SZABIST

Later that day as we finalised our plans, she sent me another email: "Dinner at harry's bar. Can u come
in a jump suit? Do u want to check? If its not too late when we finish we will drop by for coffee. Let
me know if harry's bar allows u to come in a jump suit."
After eight years in exile, Benazir finally returned to Pakistan on October 18 this year. There was an
attempt on her life that very day at a homecoming rally in Karachi - a suicide bomber killed 140
people but Benazir escaped unhurt. I spoke to her on the phone and realised that she was suffering
from trauma after the blast.
On November 3, Pakistan's President Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended
elections.
Suddenly, after being snubbed for nine years, Benazir was being feted by Washington. She thought
this was fantastic news and that President Bush's support would help her win the election in Pakistan.
But Asif asked me to check with my own contacts in Washington and Islamabad. I did and the
information I got was that as soon as Musharraf ended the state of emergency, the Bush
Administration would abandon its support for Benazir. She would be left extremely vulnerable. I
thought it was a death trap.
On November 8, Benazir was placed under house arrest after threatening to join a protest rally against
Musharraf. I rang several times before I managed to get my call answered.
I didn't speak to her but she later called me back. She couldn't talk freely as she knew her conversation
would be overheard. She sounded frantic.
I asked her if she needed anything, meaning a book, face cream, perfume or me to contact anybody.
She replied: "Yes. I need a bulldozer." I couldn't understand what she meant and thought she was
talking in code.
Later Asif called me and said her house was surrounded by so many guards, Benazir needed a
bulldozer to get out.
In one of our last phone calls, Benazir told me: "Washington is behind me. I can't lose this
opportunity. I have been waiting for it for nine years. We need to get Pakistan democratic again. I am
needed here. It is now or never."
I said: "There will be a better opportunity for you and I wouldn't bet on Washington's support. You
have already been prime minister. Try something else."
Again she didn't listen. Once Benazir made up her mind about something, there was no way to change
it. How I wish I could have made her think again. Bibi, I'll miss you so.
TV journalist Daphne Barak has befriended many of the world leaders she has interviewed - from
Nelson Mandela to Shimon Peres - but none became such a close friend as Benazir Bhutto
Daily Mail
December 30, 2007