 Nabeel Arshed feels the country is spiralling out of control |
I was in Rawalpindi town at the time of the assassination. I heard an
explosion but suicide bombs have become routine in this country so I didn't give
it a second thought.
When I turned on the news I got the shock of my life.
I come from a family with rightist sympathies but we all feel as if our
mother had died. She was a liberal force, a hope for a Pakistan overrun by
militancy. Now there is a great vacuum.
My fears are for Pakistan's unity. She went to the restive province of
Balochistan and handed her support to the people there. Whatever we were going
through, I felt as if she had the power to unite the provinces of Pakistan. Now
you can already hear the separatist movement.
Those voices are becoming stronger now that there is no national leader in
Pakistan. We were already in a downward spiral, heading towards extremism. This
was the last straw: killing a stalwart for democracy.
We were going to give our vote to Benazir. The country has now been handed
over to chaos.
ASIFA HASAN, RESEARCHER, ISLAMABAD
 |
 Comments from Asifa Hasan |
I want to cry over the recent events. Somebody has killed my hope.
Everyone I know is feeling a personal loss, even those of us who were not
planning to vote for her, and those of us who thought she was corrupt.
It's like a graveyard out there, no one is on the roads. People are
heartbroken.
It looks as if Pakistan is closer to instability, closer to disintegration. I
don't know what is going to happen now. We are not hearing any political
analysis. It's a disaster of such huge proportions that people don't seem to
know what to do or say.
I work for the Free and Fair Election network and we were monitoring the
elections. The assumption is the election will take place. But I think it will
be postponed.
I see my country being pushed to the brink of disaster. Civilian leadership
is what keeps the country together. That is what has gone now. There is conflict
in the northern areas and that is beginning to spread. The troubled Swat
district is barely 300km from Islamabad.
What kind of reaction is going to come out of [Ms Bhutto's] native Sindh
province? God help Pakistan.
MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM KUMBHAR, FISH
FARMER THATTA, SINDH
We are very worried about our future. The Bhutto family was the shelter for
poor people like us. Now we are feeling shelterless. I and my whole family voted
for her party and we always will. Now, I don't think there is any alternative.
In Thatta, where I live, in her Sindh province, all the government property
has been burned. People feel the tragedy. Many have left the town to go to
Larkana where she will be buried.
After morning prayers, I know there will be big problems in the city. We will
go onto the streets and we will protest peacefully. Yesterday, our protests were
not peaceful but that was because other elements came and caused some trouble.
We are planning to gather at the mosque on the main road after prayers to begin
our protest at the death of our leader.
Being a Sindhi person, I feel now that Pakistan is no longer in our favour.
If Pakistan gives independence to Sindhi people, we will be happy.
She was the symbol of the unity of Pakistan. That no longer exists any more.
FAISAL MAMSA, PSYCHIATRIST, KARACHI
 Faisal Mamsa witnessed chaos on the streets of Karachi |
Last night I was stuck in traffic on the streets of Karachi for hours
witnessing a stampede as life on the streets became insecure.
I was shocked as I witnessed women running for help, without their shoes,
without their headscarves, just running and begging cars to help them and give
them a lift to safety.
I felt as if I was living in a civil war. The city was being set on fire. The
country had become paralysed.
I think that's a symbol of where Pakistan is going after this assassination.
I believe most damage was done by the followers of her party, done in rage, I'm
sure. But what has the common man done to deserve this?
We used to feel secure here. Foreign companies were investing in Pakistan,
people could go out at night and feel safe. During Musharraf's rule we had an
economic boom. After last night, I believe this country is being handed over to
militants.
I hate to say it, I might be condemned or killed, but we need to take extreme
security measures to curb whatever the militants are doing. I had high hopes for
Benazir Bhutto. It was one of her main agendas to control the militants.
Now we have been asked to stay at home for three days. It is literally like a
curfew. The main road is empty. I have been trying to trace my patients and some
are missing. That makes me wonder what has happened to this country.
UZMA SHARON, TEXTILE LAB TESTER,
LAHORE
She was our hope in this bad year. She was a seasoned politician and now
there is no one experienced enough to take her mantle.
I am not a political die-hard but she seemed to project a great image for
Pakistan. She was a woman and she was strong.
Our image abroad is bad, people believe our women are suppressed. But none of
the men in this country were as qualified as her, she would have been a great
candidate.
These militants cannot bear a woman. My great fear is that they want to
suppress women's rights across Pakistan. I don't know what our younger
generation is going to be facing now. The girls here are so enthusiastic about
participating in public life but now they may have to be confined to their home.
This is the image of Pakistan that the media portrays anyway: that we wear
burkas, that we have no freedom. But after this incident, it may well become a
reality. I am worried about the Talebanisation of our country.
Here are
a selection of comments from Pakistan:
KARACHI
Benazir's death is not only shocking for all Pakistanis it's also an attack
on all moderate forces within our country. It feels like a true leader is lost
forever. This brutality has no place in our religion and even if one didn't
agree with her policy or was doubtful of her innocence in corruption charges,
she was a brave woman and an inspiration to all. Pakistan People's Party should
still take part in the elections. They will surely sweep to victory.
Nadda Salim, Karachi
Back in 2001 no one could expect that life would become so cheap in Pakistan.
Thanks to the US's war on terror, we are at a point where on the one hand we
have liberal fascists and on the other hand misleading Islamists planted by
agencies to defame religion for their personal ends. One wonders why? To
terrorise Pakistanis? Are we not in a worse situation than the people of Iraq
and Afghanistan? Is there any solution to the problem?
Naimat Khan, Karachi
One after another the voices struggling for restoration of democracy in
Pakistan have been silenced. The death of Benazir Bhutto has deepened the wounds
of hundreds and thousands of her followers who loved Benazir as their sister. A
great political leader of South East Asia has been killed in broad daylight. The
question arises: who will now lead the torch of democracy in hand?
Syed A. Mateen, Karachi
Her death is just another statistic. Whoever says that Pakistan is not a
failed state is delusional. Just look at the state of affairs. What is scary is
that it is a nuclear power. Pakistan is very rapidly slipping into anarchy.
Sadly, Benazir will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. She never really
did anything for the nation to remember her in a positive way.
Nasir Siddique, Karachi
Benazir Bhutto was a real leader. All Pakistan is in a valley of sorrow on
her death. Nobody was expecting this kind of situation. But I think the
Government is also responsible for her death because they did not provide
sufficient security. Salute to Benazir on her courage for Pakistan.
Faisal Zaman, Karachi
LAHORE
I am a journalist, sitting here at my office. I have never felt this hollow.
This is inhumane, killing a woman who was fighting for her country, fighting for
a country which took away her father and her brother from her. Surely, she has
entered a better abode. May God be with her. I pray for her, her family and
Pakistan at this hour.
Masuma Tahir, Lahore
The news just shattered everywhere. My university was declared off by the
management, everybody rushed back to their homes, the teachers advised us to
stay aloof from crowds and use a secure route. I noticed people shutting down
their shops and rushing back to their houses, the police are out on streets.
Everybody is worried...what will happen next?
Rehman Anwar, Lahore,Pakistan
Please can we not re-write history. Benazir Bhutto was not a god send to
Pakistan and was someone who in the two terms of power had done great damage to
the country. May she rest in peace, but she wasn't a saviour for the country.
Pakistan now needs a steadying hand, to root out its extremists for once and for
all. If this means foreign troops on our soil, then so be it, but this cancer of
terrorism must be cut out of Pakistan, so we can move forward.
Imran, Lahore
Im proud of my leader.... Benazir we are proud of you ...
Sharaz, Lahore
It's one of the saddest days in Pakistan's political history. The west,
champions of democracy, always support military dictators in Pakistan. More than
90 per cent of Pakistanis are opposed to military rule, but the west holds the
generals in high esteem. Double standard. This is the feeling all over here in
Pakistan.
Ahmad Waleed , Lahore
LARKANA
I would rather call it a "double-terrorism", firstly Benazir Bhutto's
assassination, secondly the things going on in the streets! I can see terrible
protests in Larkana, on roads, setting the shops and banks on fire, breaking its
doors and taking things away. All our property from lockers has been taken away
by looters, but there is no police! No-one to control. I beg the government to
help us and send some police and army troops. Why is it confined to big cities
only? Save Benazir's city.
Zamzam Aman, Larkana
RAWALPINDI
The peoples of Rawalpindi are showing their anger by burning the shops at
Murree road Rawalpindi. And my cousin has told me in Lahore the lovers of
Benazir are burning the cars and tyres on road.
Izhar Hassan, Rawalpindi
Asalam-o-Alikum, to all who will go on to read this. As every Pakistani like
me is sad and can't express their feeling about Benazir's tragic death. Now
every Pakistani like me demands that President Musharraf holds a (Jiant) inquiry
and shows the nation who is behind that. Local as well as foreign investigators
should be involved in it, and the one who is behind it, should not be left like
in the past.
Muhammad Ayub Khan, Rawalpindi
Our Pakistan will never progress as a nation. Everyone who comes to power
ends up corrupt. I think Nawaz Sharif is next. The Pakistani parliament is
corrupt and therefore will never let the country progress as they all want to
fill their own pockets.
Wajid Hussain, Rawalpindi
The whole city is closed at this time and supporters of PPP are crying and
shouting on roads but they are right. I don't know why she attended a meeting
when agencies already predicted of bomb blast.
Imran Khan, Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD
The killing of Ms Benazir Bhutto is surely shocking and a condemnable act. I
am not an avid supporter of PPP, but this is totally deplorable. The government
and its agents are responsible in this. We need security and peace in the
country. Never before has the country suffered like this and never ever faced
such turmoil. Go Musharaf! Maybe this will bring stability to the country.
Khurram Sajjad Khawaja, Islamabad
I think what happened today clearly shows that the government should be
blamed and they are responsible. Because if the politicians are not saved, then
how come the ordinary person will be saved.
Obaidshah, Islamabad
I am in Islamabad, every shop is closed and every office. People were eating
at McDonalds when they were told to leave their food and get out in case of
reaction to the assassiantion. People are mourning over the death even my family
members. The city has got very dark and every commercial area is closed.
Osama Saeed, Islamabad
I am really very shocked about what is happening in Pakistan, the only
nuclear Muslim state, in general and the notorious assassination of the former
prime minister of Pakistan in particular. This is indeed a barbaric action which
was neither permitted by Islam nor by the humanity. I would like to express my
sorrow about the death of one of the greatest leaders in Pakistan. Benazir was a
hero and she will remain hero in history.
Ahmed Mahamed, Pakistan /Islamabad
HYDERABAD
It is black again for Pakistani democracy. I believed she would have brought
a lot things for Pakistan, education, employment and reduce poverty unlike other
governments just saying but haven't done so far. It is such painful news for me
that she has been murdered in the rally. I simply can't believe it.
saif memon, Hyderabad
I felt very sad about Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto. The people who did it should
be punished.
Hasham Masood, Hyderabad(Pakistan)
