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Benazir Bhutto Assassinated in Pakistan

Former Prime Minister Killed 12 Days Before Parlimentary Elections

Pakistani Leader Killed at Rally
Twelve days before Pakistanis are set to vote in national parliamentary elections, Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and political opponent of President Pervez Musharraf, is killed during a political rally


By Griff Witte and Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, December 27, 2007; 12:18 PM

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec. 27 -- Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday at a political rally, two months after returning from exile to attempt a political comeback.
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Bhutto, 54, was being driven from the rally in her bulletproof vehicle when she asked that the rooftop hatch be opened so she could bid supporters farewell, according to several aides, including one who was sitting next to her.

As she leaned her head through the hatch, between three and five gunshots rang out, aides said. Bhutto sank back into her seat, just as a large bomb detonated to the left of her vehicle. Those inside the car said her face was badly bloodied. It was not clear whether she'd been hit by bullets or shrapnel from the bombing. She lost consciousness, aides said, and never regained it.

The explosion, apparently by a suicide bomber, killed at least 20 people outside the car, and injured many others. Police were investigating whether the bomber was also the gunman. One possibility was that the assailant fired the shots and then, after being tackled by security officials, detonated the bomb.

Earlier Thursday, at a different pre-election rally in this garrison city south of Islamabad, a rooftop sniper opened fire on supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif leaving four dead and at least five injured.

The violence comes 12 days before Pakistanis are set to vote in national parliamentary elections, which have already been marked by enormous political turmoil. President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November -- a move that he said was to combat terrorism but was widely perceived as an effort to stave off legal challenges to his authority.

Bhutto was rushed from the public park where the rally took place to Rawalpindi General Hospital, where a surgeon worked in vain to save her.

Her SUV was so badly damaged by the bomb that it could not make the drive; she was transferred en route to another private vehicle.

Thousands had gathered at the hospital by the time an official emerged from the hospital to say Bhutto was dead; the announcement triggered a roar of rage and grief.

Devastated supporters smashed the glass doors of the hospital and stormed the building to try and view her lifeless body. Even as ambulances continued to arrive bearing dead and wounded from the bombing, the crowd outside the hospital tore down and burned campaign posters showing candidates from Musharraf's party. Yelling "Musharraf is a dog," they blamed him for Bhutto's death.

"Today there is no more Pakistan. The woman who has defended us has died," said Sher Zaman as he beat his chest in mourning. "I'm 70 years old, but today I feel like an orphan."

Elsewhere in Pakistan, crowds were taking to the streets to demonstrate and riot in protest of the assassination, setting fires and pelting cars with stones, news services reported.