Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Head of Pakistan People's Party, Mrs. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan today at 6.16PM PST.
She is survived by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari and three children.
Her Father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged by then Army Chief, General Zia ul Haq in 1979.
Within another year, her brother Shahnawaz was killed under suspicious circumstances in France.
The killing of another of her brothers Mir Murtaza in 1996 contributed to destabilizing her second term as prime minister.
Now, she faced a similar violent death in the hands of terror.

Possible suspects are the Taleban, Al Qaeda and particularly, Baitullah Mehsud, the head of the Pakistani Taleban.
People also blame the Pakistani Army in general and President Mushraff in particular for lack of security arrangements.
In October, around 150 people died in an attack aimed at Benazir Bhutto at a rally marking her return to Pakistan after a self imposed exile.

President Mushraff allowed back Bhutto after a deal with the later.
But, the deal fell apart as President Mushraff imposed Emergency in Pakistan.

Bhutto was shot as she was getting into the car after addressing thousands of supporters to canvass votes for the January 8 parliamentary election.
Before her supporters realized what had happened, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the rally at the Liaquat Bagh Park.
Two persons on motor cycles fired at her with AK-47 rifles hitting her on the neck and chest.
While she ducked, a suicide bomber blew himself up killing more than 20 people and injuring 40 others.
No one approached her car for 10 minutes suspecting more bombs.
Then, she was rushed to Rawalpindi Government Hospital where she succumbed to injuries after 40 minutes.
Final reports are yet to come and it would be more clear by tomorrow.

With the loss of Benazir, India lost a valuable partner who has vision to mend ties with India and take her country forward.
Now, Mushraff has no option but to make a deal with former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Dark days ahead for Pakistan and for the rest of the South Asia.
Only future will tell what's in store for the security and stability in South Asia.