PAKISTAN: Security remains tight across Pakistan after days of violent protests following Benazir Bhutto's death

Record ID: 376555

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Security remains tight across Pakistan after days of violent protests following Benazir Bhutto's death
  • Date: 30th December 2007
  • Summary: NEWSPAPER HEADLINE NEWSPAPER PICTURE OF OPPOSITION LEADERS PRAYING FOR BHUTTO
  • Embargoed: 14th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WU6LBHX6NNDLLD5ZGX90YHX1
  • Story Text: Unrest continues across Pakistan's Sindh Province as mourners across the nation, including the commercial hub of Karachi and the capital Islamabad, blame the government for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
    As the party of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto prepared to discuss a successor on Sunday (December 30), residents across Pakistan continued to mourn her loss and many blamed the government for her death.
    Controversy swirled around how exactly she died, with the government dismissing claims she was killed by al Qaeda or that she suffered gunshot wounds during an attack on her rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday (December 27).
    Her death has stoked violence across her home province of Sindh and has thrown into doubt elections due to be held on January 8 -- deepening the crisis in a country struggling to emerge from emergency rule.
    Anger against President Pervez Musharraf burns strongly among Bhutto's supporters and since her killing sporadic violence has erupted in several cities, raising concerns about stability in the nuclear-armed nation.
    Most of Sindh Province has gone into mourning and on Sunday carried out a third day of ritual prayers and worship in her honour.
    Many say her legacy will prevail.

    "Today is the Soyam, the third day of mourning, for Benazir Bhutto. We are extremely grieved. We feel Benazir Bhutto has not left us because martyrs stay alive. They never depart," said Nazir Ratan, a local leader of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), speaking from her home town of Naudero.
    In other cities, like Pakistan's commercial hub of Karachi, life has been all but crippled after violent protests left shops looted, building burnt and petrol stations lacking fuel.
    Residents say the protests have done nothing to spark change in the political arena. They say protesters are harming the livelihood of the poor.

    "We went out in the morning and returned in the evening. No transport is available. People can not reach their offices. Some are staying with friends. Their families are worried," explained Mohammad Faisal, a Karachi resident.

    "Many homes have run out of flour and water. Many poor people who earn daily wages are now out of work. We are the ones who are most affected," added Hyder Abbas, an employee of a private Karachi-based company.
    On the streets of the capital Islamabad, residents' anger was focused on the government and on their dismissal of claims that Bhutto was shot dead.
    Bhutto's PPP has spoken out against the government's claim that she was killed by al Qaeda, saying Musharraf's embattled administration was trying to cover up its failure to protect her.
    Islamabad housewife Nasim Bibi said she blamed Bhutto's death solely on the government.

    "This was done by the government, by the intelligence agencies, by no one else. Whatever she was, she was a very capable woman. We are mourning the loss of her capability. She was a mother. Musharraf should have thought of that. Shame to Musharraf," she said.
    Without the charismatic 54-year-old, Bhutto's party is in disarray.
    Her 19-year-old son, Bilawal, is expected to read her will later on Sunday but the Oxford law student is seen as too young to lead a dynasty whose history is entwined with that of Pakistan.

    "She is our leader," said Shahzad Ali Ramzan, a resident of Islamabad.
    Referring to Bhutto's father's death , he added: "We are going to start realising her loss now because after Mr. Bhutto she was the only real leader we had".
    A former prime minister himself, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was hanged in 1979 after being deposed by a military coup.
    The PPP leadership now faces the decision of whether to contest the election if it goes ahead.
    Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's opposition party has said it will boycott the vote and has been trying to convince the PPP to follow suit.
    So far the government has not announced any decision to call off or postpone the vote, but the Election Commission says it is planning an emergency meeting on Monday (December 31).
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