Benazir Bhutto shot?

[Jesuslove]

CNN is reporting that Benazir Bhutto, former leader of Pakistan, has been critically injured during a rally in Rawalpindi today. I fear that if this is true, it may lead to civil war in Pakistan. This is not good for the US.

[Valpo]

update:

Bhutto Killed

[Tony Trout]

Here's the story:


Benazir Bhutto Assasinated (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/pakistan.sharif/index.html)

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday outside a large gathering of her supporters where a suicide bomber also killed at least 14, doctors and a spokesman for her party said.

While Bhutto appeared to have died from bullet wounds, it was not immediately clear if she was shot or if her wounds were caused by bomb shrapnel.

Police warned citizens to stay home as they expected rioting to break out in city streets as a shocked Pakistan absorbed the news of Bhutto's assassination.

Video of the scene just moments before the explosion showed Bhutto stepping into a heavily-guarded vehicle to leave the rally.

Police sources told CNN the bomber, who was riding a motorcycle, blew himself up near Bhutto's vehicle.

Bhutto was rushed to Rawalpindi General Hospital -- less than two miles from the bombing scene -- where doctors pronounced her dead.

Former Pakistan government spokesman Tariq Azim Khan said while it appeared Bhutto was shot, it was unclear if the bullet wounds to her head and neck were caused by a shooting or if it was shrapnel from the bomb.

Bhutto's husband issued a statement from his home in Dubai saying, "All I can say is we're devastated, it's a total shock."

The number of wounded was not immediately known. However, video of the scene showed ambulances lined up to take many to hospitals.

The attack came just hours after four supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Thursday, Pakistan police said.

Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police said.

Bhutto, who led Paksitan from 1988 to 1990 and was the first female prime minister of any Islamic nation, was participating in the parliamentary election set for January 8, hoping for a third term.

A terror attack targeting her motorcade in Karachi killed 136 people on the day she returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile.

CNN's Mohsin Naqvi, who was at the scene of both bombings, said Thursday's blast was not as powerful as that October attack.

Thursday's attacks come less than two weeks after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf lifted an emergency declaration he said was necessary to secure his country from terrorists.

Bhutto had been critical of what she believed was a lack of effort by Musharraf's government to protect her.

[teresaUK]

I thought she was at risk, but I didn't think it would happen so soon.............. so sad. :(

[pamcharlie]

Yes it is shocking and very sad that she was shot and killed, as christians we must pray for the nation of pakistan at this time even it is a muslim country we need to pray for God to open "the doors" for the gospel to be allowed in the country since they really need to know the mercy and saving grace of jesus at this time. I could not believe it when i was watching the news this morning since she was for decmocracy for pakistan, we also need to pray for elections too. to share this i was praying while shopping and the holy spirit came on me and i was weeping.

[rossid]

Why is her husband's home in Dubai?

Ed: she lived there - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto

[hochspeyer]

It is horrid that she was murdered.

It is also stupid that investors in the US should go totally stupid and knee-jerky.

[catman]

This act of terrorism may backfire for the purpetrators. World opinion may turn against them, as they have attacked "one of their own". Benazir Bhutto was a woman that wanted to modernize the Islamic world and many of the women of that area held her in high regard.
I hope Pakistan can recover from this act. It would be horrible for them if they do not.

[Evanescence]

terrible

[kiwisongbird]

Absolutely terrible - can't quite figure out why it would be bad for the US but I do know it could be bad for one of my friends who was thinking about living there next year sometime - wouldn't be a great time to go live there...

Definitely need to be praying for these people- for their salvation and for God to work miracles in that country - perhaps it will be a time where there will be many visions and times of miracles as God breaks through into the distress and pain of their nation.

[Aussie3rddayfan]

CNN is reporting that Benazir Bhutto, former leader of Pakistan, has been critically injured during a rally in Rawalpindi today. I fear that if this is true, it may lead to civil war in Pakistan. This is not good for the US.

It's not good for Pakistan either.

There has been rioting in the streets and many people have died. All this in a country that was already on the brink of total chaos. Terrorism runs rampant in this country and Bhutto's death will probably only make matters worse.

Kiwi - it is bad for the US because they have been made to look like fools. They have invested alot into Pakistan to get it back on its feet and now who appeared to be the right person to lead a chaotic divided nation is assassinated by Al Queda under their noses. Not good.

[Genna14]

These are scary times. Its hard to go to bed at night sometimes. My prayers are in Pakistan.

[pamcharlie]

Yes I am finding it hard to sleep at night too since we are living in times when we really need to pray for nations like pakistan there are times when the Lord puts a nation on my heart and i pray maybe we should have a prayer board where we pray for the nations.

[hochspeyer]

Parade magazine's cover story today was an interview with her, and did not include a disclaimer about her death or condolences for her death.

It was, all things considered, quite insensitive.

[middletree]

Parade magazine's cover story today was an interview with her, and did not include a disclaimer about her death or condolences for her death.

It was, all things considered, quite insensitive.

I'm sure it was printed too far ahead to have a disclaimer.

[Pouye]

It's not good for Pakistan either.


That's for sure...


Kiwi - it is bad for the US because they have been made to look like fools. They have invested alot into Pakistan to get it back on its feet and now who appeared to be the right person to lead a chaotic divided nation is assassinated by Al Queda under their noses. Not good.

I don't think it is bad for the USA so much because it made the US "look like fools." It can be perceived that way, but the fact that terrorists are able to do these sorts of things do not really make anyone who is trying to protect the person foolish. One simply cannot be ready for every sneaky, underhanded tactic. You can take precautions, but as the USA knows very well (we have had several Presidents either assassinated or attempted assassinations on them) no matter how good you think your security is, it is only a preventative measure, and not "fool-proof".

It is terrible for the USA is because we were supportive of her leadership. She was one of the few who really was progressive in a country that is very non-progressive in many ways.

Rock