The Question: After Benazir Bhutto's assassination on Thursday, what's next for Pakistan?
Benazir Bhutto was Pakistan’s strongest voice against terrorism and military dictatorship in Pakistan. After her assassination, the country’s fate has been thrown into the unknown.
A look at Benazir’s latest statements gave us a glimpse of just how much of a threat she was to the extremists. She didn’t mince words in stating loudly and clearly her intention of cleansing Pakistan of Islamic extremists and terrorists.
Ann Curry of The Today Show wondered aloud why Bhutto was risking her life by returning to Pakistan. She told the former Prime Minister, “You're a mother of three. You could be living in London fine. You don't have to do this.”
Benazir replied, “Look into the eyes of the people who came to receive me at the airport, the joy, the happiness, the singing, the dancing, before the terrorists struck. They were celebrating my return because they want hope. If I don't come back, the 160 million people of Pakistan won't have hope of a future free from terrorism, a future in which there will be democracy.”
She didn’t hide behind euphemism in her objection to Pakistan falling into the hands of Islamists:
“The militants want an Islamist takeover of Pakistan,” she said in the same interview. “They have to be stopped. I have a choice to keep silent and to allow the extremists to do what they're doing, or have a choice to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong. And I'm going to try to save my country.’ And I have taken the second choice.”
With the national election coming closer and Benazir’s supporters gaining momentum, it is obvious that the extremists and al-Qaeda decided to act. The assassination of Benazir is therefore only a hint of what is at stake for Pakistan and the whole region. The escalation of terrorist activities in other parties of the Muslim world such as Algeria, and the arrest of terrorists preparing to strike Saudi Arabia during the Hajj, are indicative of the audacity and coordinated efforts of Islamic extremist groups.
President Musharraf has fought half-heartedly against extremists and terrorism. As a military expert, he knew that fighting on two fronts was disastrous. So he chose the soft enemy, fighting the forces of democracy, the civil society, lawyers and freedom of the press, instead of launching a counter-jihad against extremists.
The situation is now very tense and volatile. Most of the supporters of Benazir are angry and may seek revenge. Already some people have died in riots in the Sindh province, Benazir’s powerhouse. This creates a fertile ground for terrorism and jihadist suicide bombers, who could also trigger attacks in other parts of the world.
Although it may sound naive, one cannot avoid repeating the mantra that the elections should be held, and the democratization process should stay on course. It is only through the democratic process that the terrorists can be confronted. A return to military rule will only strengthen the hand of terrorism. The fact that reports say Benazir was shot in the neck before the suicide bomber struck puts a question mark on Pakistan’s intelligence establishment and may even be an indicative of an unholy alliance between extremists and elements of the intelligence.
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