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Dubai: What a tragedy for the people of Pakistan. They have lost in Benazir Bhutto someone who had to fight all her life to get where she did.
She had suffered personal grief with the deaths of her father, brothers and sister; she spent most of her five-year jail time in solitary confinement.
While all that may have altered her perception on life, it never weakened her resolve. Nor her desire to see democracy return to her country.
Her political views doubtless strengthened as a result of the execution of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979 following a controversial trial for apparently authorising the murder of a political opponent. The execution was largely seen as politically motivated under the directives of General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq.
Corruption charges
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was Pakistan's first popularly elected prime minister. His death occurred while Benazir Bhutto was two years into serving a five-year jail sentence. Bhutto succeeded twice in being elected to the post of prime minister, from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996, becoming the first female.
On both occasions she was dismissed from office by the president for alleged corruption and misuse of power. That these charges were never proven to the satisfaction of the courts merely serves to demonstrate the vacillations of jurisprudence and governance in Pakistan. With various charges being laid at her door, she decided to leave Pakistan and reside abroad, in voluntary self-exile, in the hope that by staying out of jail and fighting through her legal representatives, where she could have better access outside the country, it would enable her to fight her cause more effectively.
It is true to say that Bhutto aroused strong emotions in Pakistanis. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founded by her father, and subsequently spearheaded by Bhutto achieved enormous public support among the populace. Indeed, in the forthcoming elections, it was expected that not only would her party trounce Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML) but also the PML (Q), which supports President Pervez Musharraf. Had this latter been achieved, it would very much have undermined the credibility of Musharraf, who seized power from Nawaz Sharif in a coup, and subsequently, and reluctantly, decided to hold an election for presidency, which not only was questionable in being held, but also in the balloting.
It is for these reasons that Bhutto - and even Sharif - thought their positions among the populace had improved dramatically in an election for prime minister.
However, Bhutto's secret approaches to the military regime were seen as a betrayal by many of her supporters, as well as her opponents. Subsequently, Bhutto deemed it more prudent to disassociate herself from the negotiations and the Musharraf regime, especially as Musharraf constantly vacillated on his position on how he should proceed. It is possible that this was her undoing in the eyes of the military, the result of which was to afford Bhutto inadequate protection at her rallies, and increase the chances of her injury or death.
Following the unsuccessful attempt to kill her in October, it is surprising to know that very little was done by the army or police to ensure proper protection and security to Bhutto and her entourage.
Even at the last and successful attempt of assassination, it is alleged Bhutto lay injured on the ground for 10-15 minutes, awaiting some sort of action by officials, which, if true is a shocking state of affairs and merely serves to highlight the inadequacies of the security services - and this under what is in all but name, a military dictatorship.
Legacy
Now the question arises as to her legacy. Certainly her children are too young to enter politics at this time - even if the desire existed with the present uncertainty in the country. Although it is said her son Bilawal Bhutto was being groomed to eventually enter the political arena, but that may now be doubtful with his mother, aunt, uncles and grandfather having been killed.
Regrettably, political dynasties often are destined to have tragic ends: witness the Gandhis and the Kennedys.
Bhutto will be sadly missed by many people around the world, especially those who had hopes for the restoration of true democracy in Pakistan. Bhutto leaves behind the conundrum of what now happens in Pakistan, and not least whether the scheduled elections will now take place.
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