An update from the Canadian Press, "Pakistan in turmoil over Bhutto's assassination, Musharraf blames terrorists":
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's opposition leader and one of the country's best known politicians, was assassinated Thursday in a stunning suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a rally.The death of the charismatic former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary election into chaos and stirred fears of mass protests across Pakistan, a key ally for the West in the war against terrorism.
A wave of violence had already begun by Thursday night. In anger and grief, protesters rioted in the southern port city of Karachi, firing shots at police, setting tires and cars on fire and burning a gas station. One person was killed north of Karachi in the violent aftermath of the assassination.
Violence also erupted in other cities in Pakistan.
President Pervez Musharraf blamed terrorists for Bhutto's death and urged the nation to remain calm.
[...]
"This is the work of those terrorists with whom we are engaged in war," Musharraf said in a nationally televised speech.
"I want to express my resolve and seek the co-operation from the entire nation and we will not rest until we eliminate these terrorists and root them out," the president said.
[...]
No one claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Really? What about this?
Bhutto's supporters blamed the president for complicity, but suspicion was likely to fall on Islamic militants linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban, who hated Bhutto for her close ties to the Americans and support for the war on terrorism. A local Taliban leader reportedly threatened to greet Bhutto's return to the country from exile in October with suicide bombings.[...]
In Karachi, shop owners quickly closed their businesses as riots broke out. Fayyaz Leghri, a local police official, said gunmen shot and wounded two police officers.
One man was killed in a shootout between police and protesters in Tando Allahyar, a town 190 kilometres north of Karachi, said Mayor Kanwar Naveed. In the town of Tando Jam, protesters forced passengers to get out of a train and then set it on fire.
Violence also broke out in Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and many other parts of Pakistan, where Bhutto's supporters burned banks, state-run grocery stores and private shops. Some set fire to election offices for the ruling party, according to Pakistani media....
We certainly don't have to wait for the conspiracy theories to fly, do we? That's what passes for informed opinion in Pakistan these days. I suppose we need to go to As-Shahab or something, to an Al-Queda media mouthpiece to hear it straight about "Who killed Benazir?"
Why is it taking them so long to blame Jews for this? Very suspicious behaviour indeed.
Look for Pakistian to blow up in a civil war.
AQ spokesman, Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid, told AKI that “We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen,”
However I believe that "we" used can merely refer to jihad movement brotherhood in arms, and does not necessarily implicate the usual AQ suspects.
IMHO, eyes should turn to Baitullah Mehsud, newly appointed Taliban leader in Pakistan (brother of now deceased Abdullah Mehsud). He had AQ militants to kill Bhutto in Karachi for three reasons, termed "offenses against Islamists".
Mehsud has sworn allegience to Mullah Omar, and remains involved with AQ.
And, if the recent escape of AQ fighter/leader, Rashid Rauf can be credited to Baitullah, as well as this successful assassination, we could be in for a rocky road. For Baitullah's focus continues to lie on A. G. Khan... father of Pak's nuke problem.
It remains to be seen whether Mehsud just wants Khan dead for the black market contacts he can betray, or wants him in the fold for the knowledge. Either way... bad juju.
And while Benazir may be the loss of an opportunistic, overglorified figure head, Khan is another very important story with far larger implications.
Why is it that when these people get upset, they destroy their own neighborhoods? I just don't understand that mentality. And it's not just the muslims, many other groups exhibit the same behavior (the Watts riots in '68 and again when the whole Rodney King incident took place come to mind), along with various cities in response to the Danish cartoons etc.
Why do these groups think that the way to address a grievence with their government, is to destroy their own living rooms?
The Times names the ISI as one of the chief suspects... and the ISI is given its orders by Musharraf. Saudi Arabia is also named as a suspect.
So how come Allah doesn't take better care of his most devout countries? If Pakistan is a heavenly example of the Omnipotence's favor for his devotees' begging with arse in air five times a day, where is hell?
Ah, hell must be Sweden. (Soon to come, with all the Muslims messing up that country as well.)
The Truth About Islam - pass it around!!
Already there are talks of some entities other than Musharraf. Main stream media pundits blaming ethnic strife between Punjabis and Musharraf. Indian intelligence agency RAW would be next to be talked about in Pakistan. Finally it would be Zionist conspiracy involving Americans and Israel, along with possibly Indians. I am concerned about our dear poster Naseem's safety. I guess she would be already protesting in front of US embassy or would be happy that she won't have to submit to unislamic rule of a woman.
"This is the work of those terrorists with whom we are engaged in war," Musharraf said in a nationally televised speech.
Wrong answer. This is the work of normal muslims following their religion to the letter. This was an "Islamic Teaching Moment", or an "Imams' Directive", or a "Koranic Event"...not a terrorist attack. Also, they are your brothers-in-beliefs and you are not at war with them, otherwise you would have carpet bombed and napalmed Waziristan.
I am on to you and your taqqiya. I know your bully smell. I know your liar smell. I know your wife-beating, child-marrying smell, as well.
From now on, none of your carnage will surprise me.
I have great doubts that any attempts to pin this death on Musharraf will succeed. I also have no doubts that those who wish to see Musharraf desposed will try their best to connect him to the assassination.
Global Islamic Jihad Movement supporters can, and have, infiltrated ME govt departments before. Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Iraq... all documented before. The presence of militants in Musharraf's govt and judicial system does not mean Musharraf himself gave orders to kill.
Note that Rashid Rauf's recent escape (AQ leader) came when in the custody of Pakistani security officials, and those two officials were arrested. Hardly an escape sanctioned by Musharraf.
The western media and modern will not blame al qaeda before they find a physical link between assailant and the central command of Al qaeda. It may be act of any of those 46% Pakis whose sympathy lies with Bin Laden. It may be any unconnected cult member feeling horny enough to sleep with 72 virgins on that particular night.
Don't believe Musharraf would kill off Bhutto[much
as he might want to], his Paymaster [America] had already ordered a public sharing & showing of DEMOCRACY for propaganda purposes.
Mushy is too smart NOT to realise U.S is his only
hope & exit strategy out of Crapistan ALIVE!
How many assassination attempts have been made against him-at least four or five?
No,very possibly Islamists among Pakistan's own
Intelligence Service-we know they have infiltrated
them. Besides what's the difference between a 'moderate' & Al Quaeda- the former hires or brainwashes someone else to explode themself-just
like poor Palistinians do if rest of family receive 'Martyrs' payments.
Assalamau LAikum Susiq,
I see tht you are busy today? You ask "So how come Allah doesn't take better care of his most devout countries?"
Seems to me that yoku are not a good "god" person. Allah T'allah is best served by those who are in adversity. IT is only when you are iun troble...for an interview, an exam, an operation or in fer of your life that you PROPERLY remember your lord and master Allah T'allah.
This is why Allah remains in demand ...especially in Islamic countries.
Ironically the plentiful Westernen countries are the most corrupt & forget Allah T'allah for this reason.
Benazir was nieve, she let her heart rule over her....she was thinking that this is the same Pakistan that she left 10 years ago.
She refused to beloev that Pak had moved along with the Taliban...some may call it sacrifice...in reality it was stupidity
Listen to Naseem Fiddle while her Rome burns. Totally insane like her faith ... just keep blabbing on.
NASEEM:
Yeah. It's that time again!
Another 30 seconds have elapsed! Time for you to go run off with some jihadist cohorts and KO another poor slob "unbeliever" for Islam!