Bhutto's Assassination: Update

Yesterday morning, following a rally in Rawalpindi, the leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and one of the leading candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Benzair Bhutto, was assassinated. Thus far, little is known about the attack. Shots were fired at her as she stood waving at the crowds through the sunroof of her vehicle, apparently hitting her neck. Immediately following, a suicide bomb went off killing at least 20 people.

This morning, Bhutto was buried next to her father, the founder of the PPP and a former Pakistani President and Prime Minister himself, who was hung by the man who followed him to power. She also joins her two brothers, both of whom were assassinated.

Bhutto leaves three children, the oldest 19, and a husband. She also leaves Pakistan's one truly national party without a leader, a party that throughout its history has only been led by Bhuttos. Typical to Pakistani politics, the PPP is personality driven. It is not clear yet whether there is one person who stands above the others in the PPP who can pick up the pieces, draw in the popular support and lead the party into elections in 10 days. Her children are too young yet to pick up the baton.

Thus far it appears that elections are going forward as planned on January 8. The interim government has indicated this and a number of foreign powers including the U.S. and Canada have supported this approach. But, it is hard to see how the PPP can pick itself up quickly enough to run effectively. At the same time, also yesterday there was an attack against a rally of the other major political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) that is led by Nawaz Sharif. Today, two were killed at a meeting of members from President Musharraf's party, PML-Q, in Swat. Given the violence against these political meetings, it is hard to see how the politicians can run effectively. And, Nawaz Sharif has already stated that if elections remain on January 8, he and his party will boycott them.

Following the assassination yesterday and again today, PPP cadre were out on the street demonstrating their sadness and grief concerning Bhutto's death. They were also blaming President Musharraf either for directly being responsible for her death, or at a minimum complicity in not ensuring that she had sufficient security to ensure her protection. This of course follows an earlier assassination attempt on her October arrival in Pakistan.

So, with the death of a woman who, while she had her flaws, was truly a believer in democracy for Pakistan, a "daughter of Pakistan", it is unclear what the future holds for the country. But with demonstrators on the streets and a "shoot to kill" policy provided to the military to ensure peace, it is not looking good. The next few days will be telling as the nation, the people, and particularly the PPP, try to pull themselves together and find a way to move forward.