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Islamabad: Pakistan was thrown into fresh turmoil and the prospect of a violent backlash on Thursday after charismatic opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
The UAE strongly condemned the assassination and called for Pakistan to unite in the face of terrorism.
"The UAE has been tormented by this huge loss, which did not hit Pakistan only, but also affected the UAE," Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, said in a statement released by WAM.
"Words fail to express our strong condemnation of this cowardly criminal act and our bereavement at the loss of Benazir Bhutto," he said.
In Islamabad, an Interior Ministry spokesman, retired brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, told Gulf News: "Benazir Bhutto has died in the attack."
Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto, 54, as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.
"The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said police officer Mohammad Shahid. Bhutto died in hospital.
Police officials said 16 people were killed in the blast, which occurred during campaigning for a January 8 national election. A Reuters witness at the scene said he had heard two shots moments before the blast.
Party sources told Gulf News PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman and Bhutto's close aide Nahid Khan were also wounded in the attack.
High-level meeting
The killing of Bhutto, the first female prime minister of a Muslim country and an icon for democracy in Pakistan, prompted worldwide outrage and condemnation, including from the US, Russia, Britain and nuclear neighbour India. The Vatican said the killing was "terrible and tragic".
Pakistan opposition leader Nawaz Sharif vowed to Bhutto's supporters to "fight your war from now on" and said: "Bhutto was also my sister, I will be with you to avenge her death."
As people cried and hugged each other outside the hospital where Bhutto died, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf appealed to the nation to remain peaceful "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated," state TV said.
Musharraf also summoned a high-level meeting to discuss postponing the upcoming elections.
In Washington, the Bush administration scrambled to cope with the implications of the assassination after investing significant diplomatic capital in promoting reconciliation between her and Musharraf.
Bhutto, who came from a political family steeped in Pakistan's turbulent history and tragedies, ironically spoke of the risks she faced during the rally, minutes before her death: "I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger ... We will bring the country out of this crisis."
Chequered: Life rocked by turmoil
- Benazir Bhutto was born on June 21, 1953, into a wealthy landowning family. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founded the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and was president and later prime minister of Pakistan from 1971 to 1977.
- After gaining degrees in politics at Harvard and Oxford universities, she returned to Pakistan in 1977, just before the military seized power from her father. She inherited the leadership of the PPP after her father's execution in 1979.
- First voted in as prime minister in 1988, Bhutto was sacked by the then-president on corruption charges in 1990. She took power again in 1993 after her successor, Nawaz Sharif, was forced to resign after a row with the president. Bhutto was no more successful in her second spell as prime minister, and Sharif was back in power by 1996.
- In 1999, both Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, were sentenced on charges of taking kickbacks from a Swiss company hired to fight customs fraud. A higher court later overturned the conviction as biased.
- Geneva lawyers for Bhutto said last month they had lodged an appeal in a Swiss inquiry into alleged money laundering by Bhutto and her husband. The motion filed with Geneva's criminal appeals court could lead to hearings in the long-running case, but not before early 2008.
- Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October from eight years of self-imposed exile after Musharraf, with whom she had been negotiating over Pakistan's transition to civilian-led democracy, granted her protection from prosecution in old corruption cases.
- A blast in his reception rally killed nearly 140 people.
Your comments
Very sad news, an energetic political leader lost for Pakistan. Deep condolence for Bhutto family as well as sympathy to Pakistan's current domestic law and order situation.
Thomas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:37
Its really ever sad news in my 35-years history. Its a big loss for Pakistan and its nation, although I never voted PPP in my life but being a Pakistani, I felt very much sad. This is worst situation in my life regarding my country.
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:36
President Musharaff should work hard, very very hard this time to find those responsible for this crime that plagued his country and arrest the people sponsoring terror inside country and outside his country. Time is running out and do it now.
Zimbeth
Chicago,USE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:20
Can't believe this. Same feelings when Rajiv Gandhi died 16 years back. People are becoming so cruel.
Nibu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:16
I cant believe it.
Sayed
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:16
This is pathetic and calls for all sensible human to condone this act of the cowards. She was courageous and knew the risk involved. My call to Pakistani citizens is to come out and face up this demon.
Saji
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:16
Its a very very sad news, that she came for a good cause and this is the result that she got. That's the reason Pakistan is behind where todays world have reached.
Rehan
Duabi,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 18:08
It is sad that terrorists are targeting political leaders. The international community should initiate immediate steps to curb terrorism in Pakistan and President Musharraf should be made accountable for the incident, since a warning was issued by the intelligence agencies about a proposed assasination attempt and no proper security arrangements were made.
K M
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 17:51
This is very sad news
Shuaib
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 27, 2007, 17:37
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