Pakistan: Primary Opposition Leader Murdered

Pakistan stands on the brink of civil war. Police stations burn; several cities report arson.
 

Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide bombing this morning. The bomber shot at the Pakistani opposition leader and former prime minister several times before blowing himself up as she was leaving a rally of her Pakistan People’s Party. Bhutto was a key figure in Pakistani politics. This murder is probably the start of a new era of violence in Pakistan.

Only hours after Bhutto’s death, signs of this violence are evident. In Rawalpindi, where the attacks took place, rioters have taken to the streets, stoning, smashing and burning buildings. Police stations and vehicles have been set ablaze. Reports of arson have come in from across the country. Karachi, one of the world’s most populous cities, has completely shut down. Even journalists are staying off the streets, which are now filled with rioters. At least three banks, a government office and a post office are blazing there. Shops are closing down across the country in fear of violence. Reports say that in response, the army has been deployed on the streets of Rawalpindi, Karachi and Islamabad, though a cnn reporter notes that despite the sound of distant gunfire, no law enforcement is to be found. The situation on the ground is changing fast; the whole country has been put on red alert.

“The impact will be that Pakistan is in more turmoil—it will be the start of civil war in Pakistan,” said Riaz Malik of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party. The Russian foreign minister echoed his concerns.

Pakistan—nuclear-armed Pakistan—may plunge into chaos. This could precipitate one of the biggest disasters so far this century.

Rawalpindi, a garrison city, is viewed as one of the most secure cities in Pakistan. Likely linked with the Taliban and/or al Qaeda, the attacks, according to Stratfor, would not have been possible unless the jihadists had help from government and intelligence services. The attack further highlights, says Stratfor, “the murky links between Islamist militants and elements within the Pakistani security/intelligence establishment” (December 27).

Bhutto’s supporters blame the establishment; many argue Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is responsible through negligence, though the more extreme believe he may have been behind the attacks himself. Upon hearing of her death, chants broke out of “Dog, Musharraf, dog.” A more chilling and more plausible possibility is that radical Islam has already infiltrated Pakistan’s security service.

With only 12 days until the election, the main opposition leader is dead. Her supporters blame the government, and some are baying for blood. Meanwhile, radical Islam continues to grow and spread. Even before this attack the government had lost control of great swaths of the country. Now it could lose control completely.

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote, Pakistanalso has the nuclear bomb and could be taken over by radical Islam, with plenty of help fromIran. That means it could become a proxy of the Iranian mullahs. This would be the worst possible disaster!”

Today, Pakistan took a leap toward this worst possible disaster.