A bomb explodes next to the vehicle of Benazir Bhutto, who was killed at a rally in Rawalpindi in a gun and suicide bomb attack. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images
The former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated today, the Pakistani interior ministry has confirmed.
Bhutto, who was the leader of the main opposition party, died after bursts of gunfire followed by a suicide bombing. It was carried out minutes after she delivered a speech at an election rally in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad.
Bhutto was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery but died at 6.16pm local time (1.16pm GMT). At least 20 others were killed.
On hearing of Bhutto's death, her supporters smashed the glass doors of the hospital and chanted "Dog, Musharraf, dog".
A police officer who was at the scene said the bomber repeatedly tried to get close to Bhutto's party and began shooting before blowing himself up.
An Associated Press reporter on site saw body parts scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park where Bhutto had spoken.
The blast comes two months after suicide bombers struck a parade celebrating Bhutto's return from exile, killing more than 140 people, in the southern city of Karachi.
Hours earlier today, four people were killed and three wounded in a clash just outside Islamabad between pro-government supporters and backers of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Hundreds of riot police had set up security checkpoints today as Bhutto held her first campaign rally there since returning to Pakistan two months ago.
She had planned an earlier rally in the city but Musharraf forced her to cancel it over security fears.
The violence comes 12 days ahead of parliamentary elections. Opposition leaders are already claiming the election will be rigged against them, something authorities deny.
After the gunfire at the separate Sharif rally, Sadiq ul-Farooq, a spokesman for Sharif's party, said: "Nawaz Sharif and his procession are safe, but we have received reports that a few people were wounded and maybe a few suffered fatal injuries." All the injured were believed to be from Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N group. Imtiaz Ranjha, a spokesman or the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, condemned the attack but accused Sharif's supporters of provoking it. The party called for those involved to be punished.
Bhutto's death comes at the height of a parliamentary election campaign following eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf that ended with his resignation from the army.
This article is about Benazir Bhutto and how she died. Her death was planned, allegedly by President Musharraf. I think it was too because he was intimidated by her. I think this is very sad on her because she did not deserve to die. Also, on the news it said she got shot on the neck and chest whilst she was getting into her vechile.
No comments:
Post a Comment