Breaking News: Benazir Bhutto shot dead in Rawalpindi

NI Wire

New Delhi

Thu, 27 Dec 2007: 

Dec 27:  Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chief and former Premier Benazir Bhutto has been shot dead in a suicide attack while addressing a rally at Rawalpindi.

Earlier report suggested that she had been only wounded and taken to Rawalpindi General Hospital at 6:16 pm buas per the latest report from Pakistan news agency, she had been declared dead.

As per the report Pakistan news agency Dawn at least 20-25 people are reportedly killed in the blast.

The general elections of the nation are scheduled to take place on January 8, Mrs Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif after spending years in exile were allowed by the Prevez Musharraf administration to come back and contest election.

However, it was a sad end for the leader of Pakistan who has served as country’s Prime Minister and hoped for democracy in the country.

Benazir Bhutto (June 1953-December 2007) was the first woman elected to lead in a Muslim state. She was twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, first time in 1998 just for 20 months and secondly, she was re-elected in 1993, but was again removed on the same ground of alleged corruption as had been removed earlier.

Bhutto went into self-imposed exile in Dubai in 1998 till October 18, 2007 when she returned to Pakistan after an understanding with President Musharraf, who granted her amnesty and all corruption charges were withdrawn.

She was the eldest child of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and begum Nusrat Bhutto.

Another Attack

In another incident four persons have been reportedly killed in blast near Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s rally near Islamabad. Though high security was in place but some pro-government supporters opened fire, which left four PML supporters dead on the spot, police reported.