'No Ordinary Life': Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto

"I didn't choose this life, it chose me.... Born in Pakistan, my life mirrors its turbulence, its tragedies and its triumphs. Pakistan is no ordinary country. And mine has been no ordinary life..." Benazir Bhutto

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - Benazir Bhutto, proclaimed as a champion and hero of those who sought reform in Pakistan, lived an extraordinary life.

In the preface to her autobiography entitled "Daughter of the East", released in April of 2007, the now deceased Benazir Bhutto wrote these words:

"I didn't choose this life, it chose me.... Born in Pakistan, my life mirrors its turbulence, its tragedies and its triumphs. Pakistan is no ordinary country. And mine has been no ordinary life..."

And, this gifted woman, who had become a symbol of the hopes of millions, did not choose how she was to die either.Her fate was sealed at the hands of a homicide bomber. Indeed, it was no ordinary death either.

Mrs. Bhutto died at 6:16 p.m. at the Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was taken after a brutal homicidal attack on she and her motorcade.

Supporters gathered in the Streets in deep grief which quickly turned to anger, shouting slogans of derision directed toward Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf.

As the day has progressed, all of Pakistan seems to be erupting in a sea of grief and violence. Reports continue to come in of widespread anger arising out of a growing suspicion concerning who killed this symbol of democratic reform.

Although no-one has claimed responsibility for this murder, suspicion seems to be falling on two possibilities, militant Islamists linked to al Qaida and the Taliban and, at least among some in the anti-Musharraf circles, to the current regime.

One report indicated that a local member of the Taliban had threatened just such an attack shortly after Bhutto returned from exile in October. Another unconfirmed report found on a web site in Italy claimed that Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, an al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan had taken credit for "..terminat(ing)the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahedeen."

The same unconfirmed posting from Italy has the decision being made in a consultation with Ayman al Zawahri who was once imprisoned in Egypt for participating in the assassination of the late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt.

Some early reports from Pakistan had indicated that a homicide bomber shot the former Prime Minister and opposition leader in the neck and the chest as she was getting into her car and then blew himself up, killing at least twenty others.

However it all happened, this assassin delivered his fatal blow shortly after Bhutto's address to thousands in Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islamabad.

The confusion concerning the manner of her death continues with later reports indicating that the fatal wounds To Bhutto may have been caused by pellets or shrapnel from the explosive device used by the homicide bomber.

Mrs. Bhutto died at 6:16 p.m. at the Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was taken after the attack.

The Associated Press reported that their correspondent at the scene saw body parts and flesh scattered at the Park where Mrs. Bhutto had addressed a crowd. He counted at least twenty bodies and confirmed the presence of many wounded. Blood filled the Streets.

Anonymous sources from inside the regime indicate that President Pervez Musharraf has convened an emergency meeting with his staff to discuss the growing state of emergency following the killing of a woman whom many Pakistani's now consider a martyr for their democratic hopes and aspirations.

Included in these discussions may be the consideration of postponing the elections scheduled for Jan. 8th, 2008.

Mrs. Bhutto was energetically campaigning for the Jan 8th elections after a lull caused by the observance of a Muslim holiday last week and the anniversary of the birth of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the Nation on Tuesday.

Ironically, she had just met with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday. After the meeting she stated: "We too believe that it is essential for both of our countries, and indeed the larger Muslim world, to work to protect the interest of Islamic civilization by eliminating extremism and terrorism."

Condolences have poured in from leaders throughout the world. U.S. President George Bush issued the following statement addressed to the slain leaders family:

"THE PRESIDENT: Laura and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters. We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence. And we send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occasion.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice. Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as Prime Minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country.

We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."

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