Pakistan in a deep deep hole and still going deeper

Our Neighbour - Pakistan has managed to get the whole world to Focus on itself recently but the price for it has been a very very big one. For the country to be the center of attention of the world media, Pakistan has had to dig itself into a very very big hole and the latest event - the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto (2 time Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan) has triggered around 2 days of all-out rioting and loss in property worth Millions. Pakistan is a key ally of Bush Administration's 'war on terror', but criticism from all sides had put a lot and lot of pressure on the Bush Administration & their 'friend' in Pakistan - Parvez Musharraf. It all started with the big scandal surrounding Justice Iftikaar Chowdhary and his sacking in March 2007 when he [Chowdary wouldn't toe the line], a man popularly seen as someone who can stand up to Musharraf's wrong ways. The general came out in the whole episode which ended with the declaration of Emergency rule as a 'evil dictator' who will do anything to hold on to his seat of Power. That episode seemed to bring out a lot of pent up frustrations of the general Pakistani's out in the open.

Ever since then Musharraf has made one wrong move after another acting just how a dictator would and is paying the price for it; his popularity is at an all time low in Pakistan. Rather, he's hated by the Pakistani's, seems they all want his blood. Pakistan is very close to being the worst nightmare of not just the Americans but of the world; a nuclear state controlled by fundamentalist and extremist groups or maybe the next man after Musharaf could just be a madman like Saddam Hussein, there's simply no telling where Pakistan is going, all bets are now off. Who suffers most if this happens? of course Pakistan's long-standing enemy India.

Meanwhile here in India, everyone including the Muslims who chose to stay here during the partition of India can't stop being happy about the mess Pakistan is in. It seems to imply how correct our ways are as compared to religious fundamentalist views of Pakistan. The general feeling "Pakistan is getting a taste of it's own medicine, this will teach them". The difference in the condition of both countries after more than 60 years of Independence is proof of us being superior. Since inception, Pakistan has always been more or less in a mess, while India though has had it's share of problems, particularly in the 60's and 80's thanks to unrealistic and foolish Khalistani Fundamentalists in the latter of two decade, India at least now is a flourishing democracy destined now to be a super power if not soon than at least in the not so distant future. We just can't stop reminding ourselves of this these days.

Meanwhile, the next significant chapter for Pakistan was going to be the "free and fair" elections which were to be held on January the 8th but now they are all but a farce, Nawaz Sharrif already announcing that he'll boycott them [Political opponent of Bhutto & an Ex-Prime Minister himself]. Benazir Bhutto recently had looked like a ray of hope for Pakistan and had a big role decided for her by Musharraf and the Bush administration. (Imran Khan today called the American backing of Bhutto the kiss of death interestingly) We had a power sharing deal with her as the popular PM maybe and Musharraf still holding the cards but now since this happened. Pakistan seems neither here nor there.

And somehow the Pakistani authorities continued with their foolish ways even after this tragedy, in their attempt to pacify people, they have just added even more confusion. Different parties claiming different versions, who's saying the truth! The people of Pakistan must now be even more hurt and disillusioned. The drama really has been non-stop since the word of Benazir Bhutto's killing spread:

At first, the reports told us that 2 men on a Motor-Bike Shot her [two bullets supposedly hit her] and then one of the men on the Motor-Cycle Blew himself up causing many other Casualties along with Bhutto.


Large Scale rioting followed as soon as the news spread, banks, shops, homes, nothing spared.


Then the Government today claimed that no foreign elements i.e. bullets were found in her body and she probably died due to the blast impact.


The word was then that Al-Quiada has taken responsibility for the killing, the hit was ordered by Al-Quaeda's second in command - Ayman al-Zawahiri.


Then later, Al-queida said that they were not responsible!


Pakistan People’s Party spokesperson Sherry Rehman today claimed that she saw a bullet injury in former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s head. She also rubbished the Pakistan Government’s claim that Benazir died after her head hit the sunroof of car.


This was followed by Benazir Bhutto's sister Sanam who was in the entourage with Benazir when she was assassinated publicly announcing that she[Sanam] saw the bullet wounds on Benazir herself and the governments claim is baseless.


Remember, there had not been a post mortem of her [Bhutto's] body suppossedly because Zardari -Benazir's husband did not want that.


Now, the government has said that they are willing for Benazir Bhutto's body to be exhumed and analyzed if wished for. Truly, for those mourning such as Bhutto's Husband, her son and Pakistan People's Party, this must be too much.

Of course, the question of who was behind the killing still remains poignant and everyone has the suspects nailed in their minds. But who really was it, will we ever find out? only god knows.
It remains to be seen what will happen as the worst episode in the country of Pakistan unfolds further ...