Adil Najam
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated three years ago today, December 27.
Two years ago on the first anniversary of her death we had carried a post asking “What If She Had Not Been Killed?” Of course, this is not the type of question that has a real answer. But as the discussion on the question showed there is value in thinking about such speculative notions nonetheless. This year, to mark her third anniversary, we wish to ask a slightly different question: “What would Benazir think of today’s Pakistan?” Of course, we realize that none of us can know or guess what she might actually think. But in thinking about it maybe we will come to grips with what we ourselves think and bring some clarity to those thoughts.
So, dear readers, do please let us know what you would think Benazir Bhutto might think about today’s Pakistan.
Two days ago as I was driving in Karachi on my way to the airport I was stuck by all the huge bill boards and posters that were everywhere in commemoration of this day. All had huge pictures of Benazir Bhutto, most also had pictures (sometimes not as large) of Zulfiqar Ali Bhuto, and many also had pictures of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilalwal Bhutto (plus of whoever had paid for the poster in the first place). I realized that Benazir Bhutto is now the principal and most beloved icon and symbol of her party. Maybe even more so than her father!
What, I wondered, would she make of that?
The world was in utter shock at Benazir’s death. And many still are. The memories of the assassination are still fresh for many of us. And, yet, so much – so very much – has changed. This was even true two years ago, when I had written: “An elected government holds power. Benazir Bhutto’s arch-nemesis Gen. Pervez Musharraf is no longer President of Pakistan. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is. We still do not know who was behind her death, but speculation remains rife. The economy remains in nosedive. An energy crisis is upon us. Drones pound us on the West. And Pakistan continues to lose both territory and citizens to the extremists who continue to wage a war within Pakistan and on Pakistan. Most of all, anger and angst still define the social disposition.”
What might have Benazir made of all of this had she been alive? What might she be thinking on this day? What are you thinking? How have things turned out that are different – or the same – if Benazir had actually survived the attack?
ahahha.!
Did she ever think about Pakistan when she was alive? She was more busy in securing the future of her own kids rather the future of millions of Pakistani kids by collecting illegal money by every means.
It’s both ironic and sad that how educated lot of Pakistan today acting up more ignorant and jahil than illiterate lot of rural areas that they are “paying tribute” to the queen of corruption as “Shaheed”. No wonder, literacy rate in Pakistan is really very very low.
Have to agree with Sohail; she was terrible for Pakistan (maybe not as bad as NS or PM, but close) and I was one of the idiots who supported her in 1988 and thought she would do something good for Pakistan.
A critical analysis of Benazir Bhutto’s legacy is needed. Yes, she was no goddess. But she was a smarter politician than usually given credit for. I think that things would have been WORSE if she had lied. She was always more confrontational an would have picked fights with the military, with PML (N and also Q) and everyone else. For all his faults, Zardari has been more of a consensus builder, maybe because he is himself weaker. Anyhow, I think if she had lived, her govt would already be out of office by now.
I do actually think things would have been better if she were alive. Unlike Zardari she was never really hated, only disliked by some.
I think there would be no difference in the country situation even if Benazir working as PM.