I'm quickly going to post this and then lengthen it later today. Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto has died. She was killed whille speaking to a large gathering of her supporters. Suicide bombers killed her and at least 20 people in their attack.
As I said, I will go into details later tonight. Right now I just want to say how shocked I am. I know this isn't close to home at all, but this is just so...weird. There's probably a better word but this piece of news is just consuming my mind. I never really thought of Bhutto as a person who could change how Pakistan is today, but she was definitely a force. So many people look up to her as motivation and as hope. The one thing that hit me most is that I've never experienced this before. I've watched her on the news and interviews this past many months, and then suddenly she was killed. This never happens here. People just don't appear and then not the next day.
I must be off to work, but I promise this will be extended with further details and my feelings.
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The situation has not changed since this morning. Bhutto is still no longer alive and Pakistan is in a state of turmoil. Many are grieving for the death of a great leader. Bhutto has said that she knows of the dangers of returning to Pakistan but she was willing to put her own life at risk to save her people.
Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister for two terms between 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. She was the first female to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the age of 35. Her father was also once a Prime Minister but was hung due to conspiracy to murder and corruption [Benazir faced the same allegations in her terms]. She led the Pakistan Peoples Party, which is a centre-left party. Although both her terms were cut short, she aided in changing Pakistan even with all the opposition trying to boycott her. She was exiled due to her alleged corruption charges but was granted amnesty by President Pervez Musharraf. The PPP and she were great critics of Musharraf and his politics.
Bhutto's passion towards changing Pakistan for the better has inspired and influenced so many people, that her death has shocked not only people of her own country, but people around the world. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has voiced his grievances and spoke very highly of Bhutto. Even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that this sad event has affected those in his country. President Bush and Prime Minister Harper has both said that this is an outrage and that those who did this should be stopped.
For the next three days, Pakistan is to be in a state of mourning. But for the strong supporters of her, this official declaration by the government does not mend anything. They are angry at the lack of governmental control and security, and some are angry enough to believe that this was done by the government under Musharraf. Everyone is pointing fingers at everyone, but it must be remembered that extremists committed this horrific act and rash actions may prove to further damage the country.
Pakistan lost an important figure in democracy today. Benazir Bhutto was a brave woman whose life was committed to helping her country. The world mourns her untimely death and she will always be remembered. May she find peace in where she is now.
R.I.P. Benazir Bhutto.
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