Lately no news coming out of Pakistan seem to be good news. This afternoon I started writing about Benazir’s return in lighter words focusing on hilarious statements coming out of our politicians on her return and then this horrific news of scores of people dead started coming in. My lighter mood vanished totally and now I am left wihout words and more questions like, Why? Who? what now? etc.
The headline news on CNN reads as follows right now:
An explosion near the motorcade of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed at least 110 people and injured 200 more, officials say. Bhutto, returning after years in exile, reportedly was unhurt.
While we are glad that she remained safe, our sincere prayers are with those innocents who lost their lives.
zabt laazim hai magar dukh hai qayamat ka
zalim ab ke bhi na roay ga to mar jaaye ga
Reading the comments on this post, and on Karachi metblogs make for depressing reading. In furthering their own political agendas, and indulging in vast conspiracy theories, a large number of people have chosen to ignore the perpetrators of this act, who in this case are almost certainly Taliban backed terrorists.
At a time when the country needs to unite against extremism, such political bickering serves no useful purpose.
MAY THE MERCY OF THE ALL-MIGHTY BLANKET THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS ABHORRENCE.
What we have stooped to, as a nation, leaders and the lead, will become apparent in the aftermath of this vile act of inhumanity.
Our leaders will decry this ‘affront to democracy’. Mr. President has already done so in similar words. Those who were on the face of it targets of these attacks will attempt to leverage a sense of moral righteousness, to further promote their agenda, and innocence, in the eyes of the public and western media.
No one will accept any part in the chain of events that has lead to this carnage.
An exile, supposedly ‘self-imposed’ has been brought to an end. Along with it, the lives of hundreds, extinguished.
Western powers, with their vested interests in our country, will instantly point the finger at the fundos, as the enemy of democracy. The democracy that our leaders are guilty of trying to create at the behest of their masters.
We, the people, those being lead to this holy grail of democracy, have to hold our hands up and accept that we are the audience. It is for us, and in our name, that this whole script is being enacted. If we cannot turn our backs on this then we are as much to blame.
THIS WAS NOT AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.
This was an attack on the people of pakistan. An insult on the people of Pakistan, and we are all to blame. Everybody could see something like this coming, and yet no one was willing to back off, or back down.
The only agenda was to keep turning up the volume.
The people should not forget or forgive those who pulled the pin today, just as they should not forget or forgive those who yesterday were wanted for crimes against the state, and yet today they were able to claim ‘charges, what charges?’.
100 more people …another laurel to Ms.Bhutto and General. Well planned and well executed that only innocent lost lives. Behind these 100 lives , there will be 1000 lives affected forever. Those 1000 lives may only get one meal a day for years to come…many will lose the roof from their heads… 200 kids will never be able to go to school, 100 girls will never get enough money to get married….They all paid a price for the corruption and cruelty of the ‘daughter of the east’..thats what ‘awaam’ do…and now 1000s of naive people will pray for her long life instead of praying for the ones who lost their everything for this country.
Life has to end oneday….so will it for you too Ms. Bhutto..and all involved…50 years more and 100 billion in swiss accounts….then what???
(same posted at KMB)
Hi All,
First, I want to express my deepest regrets at the loss of lives in Pakistan. I can only hope that all these lives sacrificed will not go waste and Pakistan will finally and firmly be on the path to a sustained democracy.
I wish I was writing this comment under different circumstances. But unfortunately the return of Ms. Bhutto has coincided with such violence.
I am an Indian living in the U.S. now. I am a contributing editor for a women’s blog network, BlogHer.org. I write on South Asian women, their issues and their blogs. You can read my posts here (http://blogher.org/blog/snigdhasen)
I read ATP regularly.
I am working on a post on Muslim women as heads of state, and I wanted to peg it on Benazir Bhutto. I want to focus more on the issue of women as leaders rather than Bhutto’s (or anyone else’s) personal capabilities as a leader or politician.
From my reading online, it appears to me that Islam doesn’t allow for women to head a country (please correct me if I am wrong). I want to know what young Muslim women think about it, and how they interpret Islam on this issue.
Since my focus is women, I ‘d really appreciate if you could point me to female Muslim bloggers (Pakistani women bloggers would be great!)
Thank you and keep blogging.
Peace
SS
This is beyond disgusting!
Unfortunately, instead of strongly condemning these dastardly acts, people on this post are starting to blame the apparent target of these attacks. I am sad because of the huge loss of lives but relieved that the terrorists did not achieve their goal. I don’t care how corrupt people THINK she is, that should not make these attacks any acceptable. I will prefer a corrupt leader over a murderer any day.