Benazir Bhutto - SZABIST

changed circumstances, even a thought of participating in the proposed sham would be tantamount to
a political death that would descend swiftly. With the paradigm shift that is now shaping the events in
the country, only a one-point agenda stands paramount: General (Retd) Musharraf should exit
forthwith facilitating the way for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections under a genuinely
neutral national caretaker government. Nothing less than that will work for this country that stands
gravely imperilled due to the wanton and unending machinations woven by the self-seeking and selfpromoting
battalions of cronies, toadies and sycophants who sit atop all positions of power. Short of
this minimum, all political forces should step forth to join hands in a collective boycott of any
proposed election farce and wage a struggle for the introduction of a genuine democratic polity in the
country. It may be a long battle, but it is a battle that has to be fought and won. Only that can sow the
seeds of a sovereign, stable and progressive Pakistan.
With that must also come to an end any political role that the army may have envisioned for itself in a
future dispensation. The line should be clearly and distinctly drawn between the constitutional role of
the army and the role of the political institutions and leaders. The two cannot be intermixed, and they
should not be, as all myopic and self-centred efforts to do this in the past have brought incalculable
damage to the country, including its tragic break-up. Pakistan cannot afford another mishap as it has
already endured prolonged and unnecessary captivation at the hands of its undemocratic rulers. The
aberration of dictatorship should be permanently banished and the enduring polity of democracy
fondly embraced. Pakistan owes it to its teeming, suffering millions. Pakistan owes it to Benazir
Bhutto!
The death of Benazir Bhutto
The Nation
December 29, 2007
Air Marshal (Retd) Ayaz Ahmed Khan
Benazir Bhutto's return home had brought hope of return to democracy, political stability and
prosperity. Coming out of the aircraft on that bright day, she had raised her hands in prayer, with tears
in her eyes. It was a blessed day for her and for the Pakistani people, who wanted to give her a
befitting reception after eight years self-imposed exile. People had descended on Karachi from far
away places - Azad Kashmir, Bajaur, and Malakand.
A huge crowd of excited and happy Pakistanis turned out at the rally. With all the roads clogged, her
bullet proof vehicle was an easy target for hired terrorists. The joy turned into grief when a suicide
bomber blew up, killing 150 people and injuring several hundred. She survived. She had already
received death threats. With suicide bombers creeping everywhere, her party leaders should have
given top priority to her personal security.
There was no need of driving in a motorcade to Quaid-e-Azam Mazar. Being a populist political
leader she disregarded official warnings. She expressed her aversion to terrorism by stating that
terrorists are against democracy. But they have penetrated and are busy sabotaging Pakistani culture
by violence, bigotry and extremism. Unfortunately the Pakistani brand of terrorism was flowing out of
Madaris funded by outsiders. Some of the warlords in Waziristan, had been openly talking of
eliminating her. The Karachi suicide bombing should have brought home the lesson that she will
remain vulnerable and that she should be provided fool-proof security.