Suicide Bomber Kills Hundreds As Former Pakistani Leader Returns Home
Posted October 18, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former prime minister, returned to that country Thursday following eight years of exile over charges of corruption.
Some 15,000 admirers greeted the politician on her flight from Dubai to Karachi, in a return that could signify a huge political comeback. Bhutto hopes to campaign in January’s upcoming elections for a third term as leader, possibly in cooperation with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup. The two have talked and apparently reached an amnesty over the corruption allegations that prompted Bhutto’s departure.
But the triumphant homecoming soon turned to disaster, after a suicide bomber blew up his deadly payload, killing 126 people. Two explosions struck near a truck carrying the exiled leader, and while she was dazed and shaken, she wasn’t hurt. Another 248 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest bomb attacks in Pakistan’s history.
It was a terrible ending to what had been a tremendous day for the returning ex-head of state. “She knew she was a target, I was talking to her about it,” recalls Christina Lamb, Bhutto’s biographer. “She was worried that the lights were going off, the street lights, and that snipers could be on tops of buildings and bridges. Luckily the bus had a downstairs enclosed compartment for her to go and rest in, and she just happened to be there when it went off, so she wasn’t on top in the open like rest of us, so that just saved her.”
Blood, broken glass, remnants of body parts and the wreckage of automobiles and motorcycles were everywhere as the carnage never seemed to end. The country is going through a period of instability as the nation with nuclear capabilities struggles to oppose growing threats from Islamic militants.
Earlier, Bhutto had tears in her eyes as the 54-year-old returned to the country amid tight security. She waved to the huge crowds assembled to meet her.
“I hope that, as this miracle is happening, that a miracle will happen for the impoverished and poverty-stricken people of Pakistan who are desperate for change, who want safety, who want security, who want opportunity, who want empowerment and employment,” she said.
Azad Bhatti, a 35-year-old poultry farmer in attendance, said he had “blind faith” in the woman’s ability to lead.
“When Benazir Bhutto is in power there is no bomb blast because she provides jobs and there is no frustration among the people,” he said. “Whatever she thinks is for the betterment of the people.”
Formerly archrivals, Bhutto and Musharraf could end up working together against terror organizations like al-Qaida and vow this blast of violence won’t deter them.
The violence has affected the local Toronto Pakistani community. To see there reactions, click the video links above.
Photo credit: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images
