A spokesperson for the al-Qaeda terrorist network has claimed responsibility for the death on Thursday of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

“We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen,” Al-Qaeda’s commander and main spokesperson Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid told Adnkronos International (AKI) in a phone call from an unknown location, speaking in faltering English. Al-Yazid is the main al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan.

It is believed that the decision to kill Bhutto, who is the leader of the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was made by al-Qaeda No. 2, the Egyptian doctor, Ayman al-Zawahiri in October.

Death squads were allegedly constituted for the mission and ultimately one cell comprising a defunct Lashkar-i-Jhangvi’s Punjabi volunteer succeeded in killing Bhutto.

Bhutto had just addressed a pre-election rally on Thursday in the garrison town of Rawalpindi when the bomb went off.

She had come to Rawalpindi after finishing a rapid election campaign, ahead of the January polls, in Pakistan's volatile North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where she had talked about a war against terrorism and al-Qaeda.

Reports say at least 15 other people were killed in the attack and several others injured.

As news of Bhutto's death spread throughout the country, there are reports that people have taken to the streets to protest the death of the leader of the PPP, which has the largest support of any party in Pakistan.

In the southern port city of Karachi, Bhutto's hometown, residents reportedly threw stones at cars and burnt tyres.

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quote:

Originally posted by Minhaj im not surprised these fucking muslims couldnt stand the fact of a woman being some sort of leader RIP

How fucking Retarded are u , with such a comment ...

You do not have to go far to see the level of stupidity among the general public. You can just look at Pakistan and see how uneducated people make life so hard for people who actually might want to make a difference. The supporters of PPP and MQM are huge rivals and in Karachi they now have a chance to settle some old scores in name of revenge for Benazir. And of course the 3rd party people are also taking advantage of this situation. You may ask why the people who have the power to make a difference don’t do anything. Well, the answer is simple. FEAR. False Evidence Appearing Real. Everyone is worried if I stand up against something will I be killed? What will happen to my family? What about my kids? And in that fear no one has done anything.
The dead body of Benazir is being transported to her hometown where she is to be laid to rest next to her father. People from all over the country are heading to her hometown for final prayers and funeral services for her.
Karachi is a total mess right now. It seems like a disaster zone. Shops burnt to the ground. Houses looted. People robbed and killed. Lahore is in little better shape but it still doesn't look good. Supporters of PPP have pulled down all campaign signs of opposition parties. There is a wheel jam strike in all of Pakistan. I was at work when news came about the death of Benazir. Half hour later we could hear shots being fired and could see tires, cars and shops are being burnt outside on the streets. Took me almost 3 hours to get home whereas the drive is about 15 minutes. Scared to death (literally) me and few co-workers just got in 2 cars and took a route home where we thought we would not find much trouble. Except for few stones thrown at our cars, nothing major happened. Thank God.

The political situation was already very bad and now it has gotten worse. Orders have been given to shoot anyone who is seen causing trouble out on the streets, but that is just making people angrier. Who decides which person is causing trouble and which person is not? Of course the guy with the gun who has Police written on his shirt. PPP supporters are upset with the President as he has done nothing to provide help and / or protection to their leader. The president himself is actually in a lot of danger too. 2 attempts have already been made to finish him off but he survived both.

One interesting thing you folks might find a bit weird is that the place (Liaqat Bagh) where Benazir was attacked is the same place where her Dad was hanged and it also happens to be the same place where Pakistan's very first leader Liaqat Ali Khan was assassinated too in late 50s.

Being in Pakistan you will find mixed opinion about Benazir. I personally think she was good. It's her husband Asif Ali Zardari and his family who screwed up everything for the Bhutto family. When Asif's wedding was being planned with Benazir she had said no. It was Nusrat Bhutto (Benazir's mother) who convinced her otherwise. Asif and his family have been known trouble makers in Pakistan. When Benazir first came to power they went nuts and cause so much corruption and stole so much money that Pakistan's wealth was almost zero. Benazir stood up to Asif a couple of times and each time she lost a member of her family. I admire her for at least trying to stop the madness that was being caused by her husband and in laws. Even now Benazir was being pushed into the political scene so Asif and his family could get their hands on the 1.5 Billion dollars in frozen assets by the government of Pakistan. That right 1.5 BILLION dollars. Benazir was saying and doing whatever higher powers want her to do just so she could get in power and get that money so shut her husband and his family. In doing so she pissed off some people like of course the well known Al-Qaeda by saying she will do anything and everything to stop them and will hand them over to U.S.

Oh well this is something that could end up in pages and pages of discussion. I just hope that somehow people would understand that by killing more people and putting things on fire and causing chaos in the country won’t bring their leader back. It only jeopardizes the country more and leaves doors wide open for 'other' enemies to take advantage of the situation.

RIP BB. And people of Pakistan SMARTEN UP!!! Please. It's not good for innocent people like me and million others to go to work one night and then not know if we would make it back home alive

___________________
Let's bring the change!!!

This is a black day for democracy and a black day for Pakistan.

I fear we may not see her like again.


RIP

___________________
If you can't be good, be careful.

"Hey look, I can make a heart-shape with my hands!!!" So Fucking what? Stop it. You're a douche.

When life gives you lemons, squirt the juice in the eyes of your enemies.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. DAS This is a black day for democracy

i wonder what percentage of Pakistanis would disagree on this due to the fact that some saw her more as american influenced...and that she would bring in the US to fight off the extremists...i'm sure there are those who wouldn't want the americans or their influence in Pakistan regarless of the extremism issue

not to detract from the issue itself, but...

how weird is it that initial reports said she was shot in the neck and chest before the explosion...but then the surgeon who treated her stated that she died from trauma to her skull from shrapnel...and now authorities say she died from a fractured skull from the force of the blast knocking her head against a lever for the sunroof as she tried to duck back inside the vehicle, with all shots fired missing her.



I can understand not immediately pinpointing the cause of death...but shot twice vs. not at all? I just found that rather bizarre.


It seems that entire region is plumetting further into chaos...

we have Iran accepting it's 2nd shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia today...British forces allegedly holding secret meetings/negotiations with insurgent leaders to end fighting...Iraq is not remotely close to becoming "stable"...Afghanistan remains a mess...and now a controversial, polarizing former leader in Bhutto is assassinated in Pakistan little more than a week away from elections.

crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT not to detract from the issue itself, but... how weird is it that initial reports said she was shot in the neck and chest before the explosion...but then the surgeon who treated her stated that she died from trauma to her skull from shrapnel...and now authorities say she died from a fractured skull from the force of the blast knocking her head against a lever for the sunroof as she tried to duck back inside the vehicle, with all shots fired missing her. I can understand not immediately pinpointing the cause of death...but shot twice vs. not at all? I just found that rather bizarre.

Exactly my thoughts......Its crazy you dont know what to trust anymore.