Uncertanity in Pakistan after Bhutto's death

Leaders are the driving force of democracy, and for Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was the epitome of a politician who strove to bring change to the country. Though many people believe the former prime minister of Pakistan was corrupt, they don’t deny her courage and charisma. The assassination was followed by violence. 500 cars were torched as well as 13 banks, seven gas stations and two police stations. Not all Pakistanis resorted to rioting and violence; thousands of people paid their last respects in a marble mausoleum that Benazir Bhutto was placed in beside her father. This mausoleum is located in Bhutto’s ancestral village in the Sindh province.

Bhutto’s supporters pointed their fingers at President Pervez Musharraf for not providing her with the appropriate security to protect her. They believe Mushrraf failed to provide adequate security for the situation while others say that he actually orchestrated the killings. Musharraf claims that he had nothing to do with the murder of Benazir Bhutto and that al-Qaida was in fact responsible for her death. The government promises to hunt down and kill whoever is truly responsible for her death. They are planning to search along the Afghan border as well as lawless tribal areas where al-Qaida is the most prominent. 

Wolf Blitzer interviewed Bhutto a few months before her death, asking her why she puts herself through such dangerous situations. She replied that she feared for her life almost every day, but she was willing to sacrifice her life for the benefit of her people. This showed the world that Benazir was working for a better Pakistan, ignoring the fact that many people were strongly opposed to her return. Her campaign ended with her death, but her memory and her goals for her country will live on the hearts of the Pakistani people.

“I was not surprised, I was rather concerned,” said social studies teacher Mary Richardson. She believes the assassination has raised concerns in Pakistan as well as in the rest of the Middle East.

“I knew it was coming, because she was a popular politician,” said sophomore Aishwarya Venkat. In addition, she also believes that Pakistanis need a better leader, but that America should not get involved.

“I am not surprised at all I think that it [the assassination] was going to happen anyway,” said junior Samantha Romano.

“We [the U.S.] can not solve all the problems in the world,” said Richardson, contemplating the possibility of future U.S. involvement. “We can not go around violently overthrowing governments, or we will have many little Iraqs.” 

Pakistan has been one of the biggest allies of the U.S. in Southern Asian since the Cold War.  As a result, anything that happens to Pakistan affects the U. S. “The most important thing in Pakistan is the need for  stability, we need a government [in Pakistan] that can keep stability,” said Richardson.

“On the other hand the people have to feel comfortable with the leader. The bottom line is to bring an election that is fair, and honest,” said Richardson.
 
“Assassinations are always destabilizing factors,” said Richardson look at the Pakistan situation.

“I worry about civil war, that is the reason we need to work with the Pakistanis,” said Richardson. What we are seeing is a power struggle, it is a sign of a nation on the verge of war, a nation in crisis.  For Pakistanis civil war is not far from home, distraction is near, and it is the responsibility of the international community to cool off these tensions.