By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan
AROUND THE GLOBE (ANS) — ANS readers have responded from around the globe to our questions pertaining Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and on the postponement of Pakistan parliamentary elections to Feb 18.
In her initial reaction at the assassination of Ms. Bhutto, Judy Wolvaardt from Western Cape Town, South Africa, wrote that she was utterly “shocked and mortified”.
“Unless someone steps in, I foresee a bleak future for Pakistan – with the Taliban running the show behind the scenes perhaps. Christianity being banned as it is now in Afghanistan next door…,” wrote Judy while responding to an ANS question as to where Pakistan was heading after the murder of Pakistan two time former Prime Minister.
In reply to a question that asked if delaying of Pakistan polls was a good move, she wrote: “It would give people time to grieve and settle down emotionally”.
Mrs. Araba Ata Sam from Ghana was of the view that the ruling government would benefit from the killing of Mrs. Bhutto. Commenting on the delaying of Pakistan parliamentary polls she wrote: “It is not, but they feel it is, in order to buy time”.
“Fresh memories of Bhutto’s death would have put them in their proper place – losing the election”, she wrote while replying a ANS question that asked readers in what ways it would be good had government held election on the date they were originally planned for.
Cheryl J. Hansen from Niceville, Florida wrote his initial reaction on slaying of Ms. Bhutto was that of disbelief. She wrote that he feared what would happen to Pakistani people following the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.
She added: “Most assuredly Musharraf is the one and only person who could benefit from this horrific murder”.
“If Mrs. Bhutto’s husband and son are able to do half of what she would have done, then they will do all should work out just fine. If Musharraf is able to stifle them as well, then only God knows the horrors Pakistan will be forced to face with Musharraf in charge”, she wrote in response to an ANS question that asked readers where they saw Pakistan heading following killing of Ms. Bhutto.
Reacting to an ANS question that asked its readers if delaying of the country’s poll was a good move she wrote: “Yes, because the people need to grieve and her husband and son need time to show they are a worthy replacement.”
Answering a ANS question that asked its readers in what ways it would be good if the government had held polls on the date they were originally planned for she wrote: “With delaying the elections Musharraf can further himself from the murder of Mrs. Bhutto. He has already made sure that the evidence has been washed away, literally. By bringing in the British detectives he is just whitewashing his involvement even more. It’s all a smoke screen, but we will never know for sure; at least not until we get to heaven and then I believe we will know everything.
Pete Kelly from Fauquier County, Virginia, USA said in his initial reaction at the killing of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “My initial reaction was, If Pakistan doesn’t fall apart, maybe this will keep them from being railroaded by the West…..”
”Had she not died, there could be at best a detente between her and the other political figures (Sharif and Musharraf)”, he added.
“Pakistan is now heading for greater disintegration, or greater regional autonomy, depending on one’s point of view”, he said while responding to the ANS question as to where the country was heading after the killing of Ms. Bhutto.
“Where there is trouble, there are hurting hearts, and there can be open doors for the gospel. We don’t know what God will do with this, but we can pray”, she wrote.
”Delay in the election is a good idea. At this point, to hold an election would mean to just go through the administrative motions. There must be too many people who are hurt or who have only revenge on their minds. They need time to slow down, quiet down, and regain some wee bit of hope in the democratic process, if an election is to be worth anything. I don’t know whether they can do that. And there may be further shoes to drop”, he wrote while answering a ANS question that sought readers’ opinion on delay of Pakistan parliamentary polls.
“The harm of postponing the elections consists of two parts. Those who are primarily anti-Musharraf will see it as part of a pattern of his attempting to retain all power, and they will continue their agitation. That can be significant. Postponement will tend to restrain international help as it suggests that Musharraf is not doing things that a trusted pro-Western leader would be expected to do.
“I think on balance holding the elections would be more harmful. Upheaval in the short term would likely be worse, and then nothing scorches the ground quite like a failed election. A failed election is what you have when large elements of the electorate boycott the vote and others are effectively disenfranchised because their candidates are dead, banned, or totally absent. Only cynicism flourishes in that kind of soil, and Pakistan might not be ready for a serious election for several years”.
Bill Dolack from Waynesboro, VA, USA, expressing his initial reaction at the murder of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “I was saddened when I initially heard the news, and from what I have heard from Ms. Bhutto since, my sadness has deepened”. In his view President Musharraf could benefit from Ms. Bhutto’s assassination in the long-term.
“I see the country plunging into further turmoil. While Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are apparently safe at this time, the possibility exists for elements within the military and government to conspire with the radical Islamists”, wrote Bill giving his opinion of where he saw country heading after the populist leader’s killing.
In response to an ANS question that asked if delaying of polls was a good move he wrote: “Yes, because if the elections were held as planned, it would be an excuse for more violence.”
Rebekah Montgomery from Kewanee, IL, USA, describing her initial reaction to Ms. Bhutto’s slaying wrote: “I was dismayed. Bhutto was sort of a heroine of mine, not necessarily because of her political views, but because as a women, she overcame tremendous religious as well as political opposition to lead”.
In her opinion no one benefited from the popular opposition leader’s killing she wrote: “In reality, no one. Her enemies have made a martyr out of her. Of all people, Muslim extremists should know that martyrs are powerful motivators. Her nation has lost a leader, a great loss for any nation”.
Barbara C. Kiser from Jacksonville, FL, USA penned down her initial reaction at the assassination of Ms. Bhutto in this way: “I was first informed of Mrs. Bhutto’s death in person by presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at a rally in Orlando Florida. My reaction was the same as his, dismay and expressing heartfelt condolences and sympathy.
“Radical jihadists have benefited most by her death, due to the destabilizing influence on the country. Hopefully, Pakistan will continue to head toward a more democratic government after this tragedy. Delaying the elections for one month is not good, but probably necessary. It would have been good to hold the elections as originally planned if that had been possible. Possible harm could be propaganda for the jihadists and further riots”, she wrote.
Broadcaster Warren Duffy from Huntington Beach, CA wrote: “Benazir Bhutto is a great heroine of history. She could always have opted for the life of the spoiled little rich girl once she finished her studies in Europe and America, but she went back to Pakistan after her education and tried twice to clean up her country. Regretfully, she had a husband who could not be trusted and twice he created situations which both embarrassed Ms Bhutto and caused her government to crumble”.
“Pakistan’s dictator cut a deal, even took off his uniform at the direction of Washington when he suspended parliament a few months back, and we have poured money into his regime while ostensibly developing a new ally…… When Bhutto became an obvious threat to his regime and as her popularity grew before the upcoming elections, he simply had her eliminated and now, has appeared before the international media and claimed “it was all her fault for standing up in her sunroof vehicle and putting herself at risk”. That is the ultimate insult”, he wrote.
Karleen Dewey from Colorado, USA wrote that the news of the assassination of Ms. Bhutto was shocking and when she first heard of it she could not believe it.
“The terrorists and possibly the present government including the military”, she wrote in response to an ANS question that asked its readers as to who in their view could benefit from the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.
“I am concerned that the country will move away from democracy and freedom of religion (especially for Christians).It may have been a good move by the government but not a good move for the people”, she wrote while giving her opinion on delaying of Pakistan parliamentary polls.
“I think it would have removed some of the suspicion that the government was involved in the assassination. The killing of Bhutto appears to be too convenient for the government. Postponement could turn into martial law as it did years ago in the Philippines. It is my hope that Bhutto’s party will have the opportunity to regroup and find a leader. I think the strongest leader and perhaps the best hope of democracy and freedom for Christians in the country has been snuffed out”, she wrote while reacting to a ANS question that asked readers in what way it would have been good if the polls had gone ahead as originally planned.
“Also, I could not believe my ears when I heard an interview of Musharraf on TV. He said the assassination of Bhutto was her completely her fault because she stood up on the car. How callous”, she wrote.
Dr. Tom Murphy from Fort Wayne, IN, expressing his initial reaction at the killing of Ms. Bhutto wrote: “I was distressed but not surprised”.
“The terrorist will benefit most, the present government secondly; the Muslim-militants”, he wrote in response to ANS question that asked who would benefit from the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.
Reacting to an ANS question as to where the country was heading after Bhutto’s assassination he wrote: “Return to a military dictatorship operated by increasingly oppressive Islam”.
“Had the elections been held as scheduled, that might have given Musharraf some credibility; but, the back side of that, elections would have been reactive and the opposing side could not have had preparations or participations–hence, sheer chaos”, he wrote.
Lisa Evanoff of Roseville, Michigan said that her initial reaction to Ms. Bhutto’s assassination wrote: “I knew it was going to happen when she first set foot back in Pakistan, I was not the least bit surprised.”
She did not see anyone benefiting from the situation unfolding after the assassination of the popular opposition leader.
“The same as it has been, before (Ms. Bhutto’s) the assassination”, she wrote while responding to a ANS question that asked readers where they saw Pakistan heading after killing of Mrs. Bhutto.
Dr. Bill Bray of Charlottesville, VA USA wrote: “Her killing stunned me personally. She was such a bright light of hope on so many levels, especially to women and persecuted minorities like the Christians of Pakistan”.
“I could hardly think of anything else for the rest of that day! I saw similar reactions from many around me, even those who had never lived in South Asia and hardly knew anything about that part of the world,” he wrote.
“Her murder was a wake-up call for those of us who had grown used to daily reports of suicide bombings and attacks in Pakistan and throughout the Muslim world. It has helped to focus people’s attention on the destructive impact of Islamic Jihad not just on Christians but on other Muslims and so many innocent bystanders. And of course, incidents like this help the whole world to understand the culture of violence that dominates not only Pakistan but the neighboring states. The Jihadist culture dominates not only Pakistan but north India and Afghanistan as well.”
“As Christians, I don’t see think we should see this murder so much in political or military terms, but as a prod to prayer. Probably it won’t matter much on the ground unless we use it as a focus for more prayer. We have to reach out to Pakistanis we meet every day in love and to Muslims everywhere, expressing our sympathy to them and pray for the Muslim world,” he wrote.
Bruce Atchison from Alberta, Canada, wrote: “I was very sad when Benazir Bhutto was murdered because she was Christian minority’s only hope to rid Pakistan of blasphemy law”.
“I believe that the benefit of her murder is split between the government and the Taleban. In a bid to hang onto power the military didn’t protect Ms. Bhutto well enough. That bought them time to stay in power while shifting the blame to terrorists”, he wrote.
Responding to an ANS question as to where country could head following Ms. Bhutto’s assassination he wrote: “It can only get worse in Pakistan unless the governments of the country and America team up to stomp out the Taleban…”
“It would be a bad move if the election was delayed longer than the February 8th date already set. The Taliban know this and I’m sure will cause as much trouble as they can”, he wrote in response to an ANS question.
“It would be a bad move if the election was delayed longer than the February 8th date already set. The Taliban know this and I’m sure will cause as much trouble as they can”, he wrote.
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan.
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