On the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto
I did not go to bed until late last night and was still sleeping when word of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto began to spread. I got several calls on my cell phone which I place next to my head and put the ringer on high so it can act as some form of an unofficial alarm clock and everyone was calling about the same thing.
Lazily I turned on the TV and began watching the coverage of the death of Ms. Bhutto complete with snapshots of her family, the tragedy they have endured, the controversy surrounding them, her days as the “Islamic Bombshell”, and her history in politics and exile leading up to her death. The nature of the American coverage seemed to look solely at the possibility that the attack was the result of “Islamic terrorism” and logically there is a reasonable chance that a violent Muslim organization made have had a role in this; but if you talk to Pakistanis, as I have been doing all day, you are much more likely to hear that there is a likelihood that the intelligence services of the Pakistani Dictator Pervez Musharraf may had had a role in eliminating his main threat to power and Allah knows best.
Pakistan is a nation that is very important to the Muslim ummah. If the nation can ever become successful and prosperous it can be a leading force for the revival of the Muslim ummah because it has an enormous amount of potential. Therefore, what happens in Pakistan, is of enormous consequence to all Muslims.
Being that I am an American-Muslim and have never been to the Indian subcontinent my knowledge of the area largely comes from the many Muslim brothers I have known over the years from the region (including my first teacher Brother Badrul Hasan) and what I have read and seen in film (and for the record I do think both documentary and literary film can be very educational) so my knowledge is limited.
What I will say is that the death of Bhutto is a tragedy because it is a sign that political fights in the Muslim World are often not fought out at the polls or in the marketplace of ideas; but rather with bullets and bombs. Whoever killed Bhutto did a disservice both to the Muslim ummah and the nation of Pakistan as this is not the way to settle political disputes or achieve your aims or objectives.
However, my displeasure at her death and sadness for her family, does not mean that Ms. Bhutto has become a saint because of the acts of her foolish assassins. It is true that she did show an enormous amount of bravery in the way she retuned to Pakistan knowing of the danger and politically she achieved more than any American woman ever has, bust just as in the case of a number of other people who have been made angels after their deaths, the media has painted Bhutto as a democratic angel struck down by the forces of evil.
For the record both of her tenures as the leader of Pakistan did not lead Pakistan into a period of prosperity. Consistently she was involved in shady deals and many of those around her were brought up on corruption charges and Ms. Bhutto herself had to flee the country over charges of the same nature. A man that I know well, whose character I trust, and is a former high-official in the Pakistani government, told me personally that a percentage of money for humanitarian projects had to be diverted to bank accounts of her husband, and let us also remember the crimes her father committed and the divisive figure she was in Pakistani society.
These things are not said the trash her after her death; but are meant to be a little dose of reality. Musharraf, I am sure, whether he had a hand in this or not, has to be the happiest man in Pakistan right now. Let us hope that this death does not lead to further violence and unrest in the nation…but that may be a fool’s hope.
Information on Marc Segal… Cousin of Bhutto and Holder of Info?
After hearing him weeping on NPR today and telling that Ms. Bhutto has sent him a text message saying if anything happened to him that it would be the workings of the Pakistani intelligence services I am interested to know more about Mr. Segal. Looking online all I can see is that he is a lobbyist and a close friend of Ms. Bhutto; but in the interview he was described as her second-cousin. I would like to know how this could be possible. The name Segal is not commonly found in South Asia, but is common amongst Ashkenazi Jews, anyone have any further information?
December 28, 2007 at 5:06 am
Umar,
The violent death of Ms. Bhutto is indeed tragic.
I concur, it does a disservice to the Muslim ummah as you stated, especially by the portrayal by global media.
Mushi is probably a dead-man-walking…unless he kowtows to the US for protection at this point.
Pakistan is ripe to spiral out of control at the moment.
Al Qaeda is almost assuredly responsible, whether they operated independently or infiltrated Mushi’s military regime.
Segal is most assuredly not Bhutto’s cousin in any blood-relative manner, but I would be prudent to let this escalate into another Zionist conspiracy thread.
Just my .02.
Hoping you and yours have a safe and happy new year.
December 28, 2007 at 6:35 am
Not much to be found on the internet about Segal.
December 28, 2007 at 7:03 am
BB’s mother is an Iranian Kurd. Segal may be related to her through that side.
December 28, 2007 at 7:38 am
ul -
with the utmost respect for your somewhat consistent open mindedness, after “however…” you’re just talking shit. whether bhutto was a saint or not is irrelevant. the alleged actions that might preclude her from sainthood had nothing to do with her assassination.
- the media has painted Bhutto as a democratic angel struck down by the forces of evil -
angel? maybe not. angels are like tooth fairies - they’re both bullshit. struck down by forces of evil? absolutely! there’s no balance or semblance of rationality to your argument here.
- consistently she was involved in shady deals and many of those around her were brought up on corruption charges and Ms. Bhutto herself had to flee the country over charges of the same nature -
charges brought by Ghulam Khan? give me a fucking break my man. self serving allegations perhaps? perhaps. or maybe she really stole the money. so what? she should have been assassinated a week and a half before democratic elections because of some half assed, self serving allegations brought by Khan how many years prior? in two weeks bhutto wins the elections. that’s why she was murdered.
your “dose of reality” is a dose of bullshit. you link the likes of pipes to the “west” but deny that the likes of these fucking idiots who believe there are multitudes of virgins waiting for them in heaven have anything to do with the “real” islam.
i’m really not following this post, man. you commend bhutto for her bravery in the same breath that you seem to be justifying her assassination because she was no “angel of democracy”.
and your assertion that “politically she achieved more than any American woman ever has” is absolutely assinine. you state yourself that in neither of her two terms did bhutto have any positive economic, and by association, political, impact on pakistan. and then you assert that she has had more political impact than any american woman in history. first of all, there is no parallel context by which to make this comment. the us does not suffer in the same political black hole that pakistan does (current administration aside) and secondly, there have been so many women in american history who have had a profound and positive impact on the development of this nation that bhutto never had the opportunity to have on pakistan. give the bashing a rest already and focus on the reality of the situation. bhutto was murdered. not for anything she did in the past, but out of fear for what she might do in the future.
respect,
moe
December 28, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sehgal is a Punjabi surname held by Indian Sikhs as well as Pakistani Muslims, I am guessing it is a caste based name like Jutt or Kher or Rajput or something (Punjabi Muslims, being the decendents of Hindu converts, keep their caste status socially even though of course there is no such thing as caste Islamically)… It actually IS common in S Asia for people who belong to that caste. so no Jewish conspiracy there.
I was very skeptical about Bhutto’s return to Pakistan as well. Having mostly heard very bad things about her corruption and all, I couldn’t understand why all of these people came out to cheer her. My husband doesn’t like her, for one. Upon asking around, I was told that Bhutto’s main supporters were not the typical upper middle class people that I usually spoke with in my daily life. Her main supporters are the poor, and they were doing better when she was in power, so she has a strong support base in them. That somehow made me respect her a lot more.
Corrupt or not, her assassination is a huge disservice to Pakistan and to the Muslim world. I pray sincerely for her and for the country she so loved.
December 28, 2007 at 1:38 pm
hmmm u seemed to have updated this as i was typing. well, Marc Segal would most likely NOT be a Punjabi Segal, so scratch that…I have no idea who this guy is, maybe someone else does.
December 28, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Of course it was wrong to kill her. However, I think her and her family are good indicators of what is wrong in most Muslim countries.
You have a family, or a tribe, who run large portions of the state. So education and ability do not matter when it comes to who gets to run the state, rather it is what tribe or region you come from, who your father is, or how much money you have.
This is exactly why so many Muslim countries are lagging behind, woefully inept. It isnt the most qualifed that get the positions, it is your family or those who can bribe you. This is how you get people who do not even have university educations running technology programs, health departments, engineering projects. It is no wonder that even if things get done, they get done poorly and cost way too much.
The lady was corrupt and was convicted in at least one country outside of Pakistan. The idea that she was a solution to the problems, rather than actually part of the problem, is a joke.
Take a look at the picture below. No, it is not a mosque, it is not a shrine built to a holy man, a saint, nor is it a cathedral, it is the tomb built for her father and where she is now buried.
In country where millions do not have enough to eat, in a country where there is little or no access to healthcare for the masses, her family spent millions to build what looks like a miny Taj Mahal to cover the place where one man is built.
You can ignore the fact that building such buildings for the dead is haram in Islam, but you’d also have to ignore the fact that the millions and millions used to build the place was probably stolen from the poor of Pakistan.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44323000/jpg/_44323667_mausoleum_afp_416.jpg
December 28, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Pakistani nation is really quick to label everyone ’shaheed’..Really do they even know what that means? They throw around that word for everyone who dies a tragic death..but give me a break!
December 28, 2007 at 5:42 pm
First Ill say Inna Lillahi Wa Innalilahu Rajiun. Theres so much conflicted reports as to what went done.Least of all how she died.First she died from a gunshot wound, then from sharpnel and now they say she died from a fractured skull which came as a result of her falling from the sunroof into the car.
All roads point to it being her fault..after all why would she stick her head out of the sunroof after 150 people were killed in the failed assasination attempt.You can call her stupid or just very very brave but for some reason I lived Mrs. Bhutto. She wasnt as great an emasculator as Margaret Thatcher and I liked what she stood for. She really seemed to want to make her homeland better.
I dont know who that guy is…Hope you find out @Umar.
December 28, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Salaam Umar,
There is a Muslim family of “Saigols” in Pakistan that is quite prominent.
Bhutto had her good and bad sides (as we all do) - but, given her political prominence, hers were perhaps more exaggerated. Given the way she died though, it’s unlikely that her negative excesses will be remembered by most people in Pakistan or abroad however. She will be canonized a saint of democracy and of the people.
And I think you’re right on here:
What I will say is that the death of Bhutto is a tragedy because it is a sign that political fights in the Muslim World are often not fought out at the polls or in the marketplace of ideas; but rather with bullets and bombs. Whoever killed Bhutto did a disservice both to the Muslim ummah and the nation of Pakistan as this is not the way to settle political disputes or achieve your aims or objectives.
Well put.
Warmly,
Baraka
December 28, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Basically, I’m with Abu Sinan and Umar on this one.
Interesting how the very first post on this thread contained this line, “Mushi is probably a dead-man-walking…unless he kowtows to the US for protection at this point.”
Huh…??? Why is it America’s responsibility or even our place to protect Pakistani politicians???
You know… there ARE other countries out there in the world. If Benazir Bhutto wasn’t satisfied with the level of protection accorded her by her own supports and the (admittedly hostile) sitting government itself, she could have publicly appealed for and requested UN-provided security. Or… I’m sure the French would have gladly supplied Foreign Legion troops or other security personnel. OR… how about Saudi Arabia? Or Iran? Or ANY Muslim state??? Canada? Russia? China?
My point is simply that there’s a certain schizophrenia out there which places the U.S. in a no-win catch-22 where whatever we do or don’t do is the WRONG THING.
I’m sorry Bhutto is dead. I’m sorry Pakistan is poor. But jeez… blame the UN… blame the British… blame the Pakistanis themselves… but for Christ’s sake (yeah… a little Christian humor there) (*GRIN*) why should the very first thought be to somehow turn this tragedy into an excuse to take pot-shots at the U.S.
What SHOULD our policy towards Pakistan be? Any thoughts, anyone???
BILL
December 28, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Abu sinan- The political nepotism you are talking about has been a part of the Muslim world since the Ummayad period.
It’s been like this for a minute and people would kill their brothers for the right to claim the throne.
December 29, 2007 at 12:01 am
[...] On the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto [image] I did not go to bed until late last night and was still sleeping when word of the assassination of former […] [...]
December 29, 2007 at 7:57 am
my take on this:
Clickety
December 29, 2007 at 10:37 am
“Whoever killed Bhutto did a disservice both to the Muslim ummah and the nation of Pakistan as this is not the way to settle political disputes or achieve your aims or objectives.
However, my displeasure at her death and sadness for her family, does not mean that Ms. Bhutto has become a saint because of the acts of her foolish assassins.”
I just had to highlight these two sentences. Thanks Umar for writing this.
December 29, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Bismillaah Alhamdullihir Raabil Aalameen was Salaat was Salaam Ala Rasulullaah (SAAW). 2 Points:
1) Volume 2, Book 23, Number 476:
Narrated ‘Aisha : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Don’t abuse the dead, because they have reached the result of what they forwarded.” 2)Rasulullaah (SAAW) said, “Never will a nation prosper whose affairs are governed by a woman.”
With these 2 points made I will say this how can Muslim Males (notice I didn’t say men) wail in the streets over a woman who tried to lead Muslims! Where has our belief gone?! Bhutto’s assasination perhaps was wrong but like Malcolm X said,concerning JFK’s assaination,” the chickens have come home to roost!” A woman along w/her husband bled the Pakistanis of their finance and then comes back to try and rule again! As if that wasn’t enough, then after her assasination is called a martyr! If she wasn’t a martyr for Islaam then there is no true martyrdom! We as Muslims have truly lost focus of who we should have walaa(association) to and baraa(disassociation)for! This woman wasn’t about Islaam but DEMOCRACY! This was her deen as it is for many so-called Muslims! They want this way of life to prevail over Islaam. If I am not mistaken ,this is one of the things which takes one out of Islaam! May Allaah guide us back to the Qur’aan and Sunnah! Ameen
December 29, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Bill,
My comment does not equal taking a pot-shot at the US. It is simply reality. It is not a question of whether the US should support Musharraf. It is a statement that the US does support the regime currently.
That is not difficult to grasp.
December 29, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Although Bhutto’s death is tragic And I pray that Allah bless her,grant her forgiveness and grant her jannah. I don’t believe she would have been the savior of Pakistan that alot her supporters or western officials thought she would be. She was still a politician and as well as everybody knows you can’t trust what a politician says only what they do. Her first two posts as Prime Minister indicated what she would have done I believe. Neopotism,corruption and financial thievery is what people should have expected from from her.
Salaam
December 29, 2007 at 11:18 pm
“This is exactly why so many Muslim countries are lagging behind, woefully inept. It isnt the most qualifed that get the positions, it is your family or those who can bribe you. This is how you get people who do not even have university educations running technology programs, health departments, engineering projects. It is no wonder that even if things get done, they get done poorly and cost way too much.”
I think Brother Abu Sinan hit the nail on the head. Pakistan has long had a small group of families dominating politics, business and the military, Benazir hailed from one of them and certainly did nothing to change the old guard of elites. I am convinced that if change is to come to Pakistan it will have to come through someone entirely new, rather than the same old group of politicians that have been around in some post or other over the last 40-odd years.
My in-laws in Lahore amd family in Karachi are house-bound right now, their businesses are shut, their children not able to go school. The Hujjaj due to go back to Pakistan are now stuck at the airports as no flights can land at Karachi. My articulate, intelligent uncle in Karachi tells us he does not have words to describe the level of madness and savagery that have gripped his city.
I pray that Allah showers mercy on this country in what must be its darkest hour. There are bad people there, but there are also those that are good beyond measure.
Sorry for the long post, but the last few days have been very sad ones for me, especially when I think of the sacrifices that people made for the birth of this country.
December 30, 2007 at 10:13 am
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
Guess what I heard on the BBC News this morning: Bhutto’s will was read and her wish was that her party’s leadership be divided between her 19-year-old son (a student at Oxford), her husband Asif “Mr 10%” Zardari, and the bloke who ran it while she was in exile.
So the so-called People’s Party is a dynastic front organisation after all. Whoever heard of a party’s leadership being chosen by means of a will!
December 30, 2007 at 4:20 pm
There is absolutely no justification to kill anyone in cold blood.
I believe that one of the biggest blunders that Benazir Bhutto made was marrying Asif Zardari - a totally uncouthed crook with absolutely no moral, academic or social credentials. It was due to Asif’s horrible corruption that Bhutto suffered all the humiliation in her own country as well as internationally. Being a traditional eastern woman, she could not control her husband’s corrupt actions and had to stand by his stinking side inspite of his abhorring deeds.
Instead of blaming Musharraf or anyone else, I would strongly urge the Government and people of Pakistan to investigate Asif Zardari for he had the strongest motives to eliminate her. Having inherited the stolen 1.5 billion dollars, he was never totally faithful to her. His escapades with other women are well known. It is also known that he has been trying for some time to shove Benazir aside and take over the leadership of Peoples Party. He publicly tried to shove her aside during a press conference in Dubai last year and insisted to the media to address him and forced Benazir not to attend the conference. Subsequently, he tried to muster political support for himself and tried to land in Lahore as a political hero. However, his paid cronies soon fizzled away in Lahore and he was unceremoniously bundled out by the then Punjab government forcing him to flee with his tail between his legs!
It was only after this futile attempt at making himself the leader of PPP that Zardari grudgingly agreed to let Benazir commence her political activities for her political revival that led to her return to Pakistan.
I am quite convinced that Benazir had realized her mistakes and this time she was determined to serve her country with her tremendous talents and strong love for the poor people of Pakistan in order to live up to their expectations. She was visibly fed up of the reputation that Zardari’s corruption had brought her and given an opportunity, she would have definitely locked up Zardari in a dog-house and made sure that he does not interfere in her governance of the country. Obviously, Zardari must have known her intentions and may have even forced her to write a will favoring him with political leadership and all her assets in case of her death.
As expected, Zardari is now controlling the Party that will ultimately result in its demise since most of the capable and dedicated leaders of the Party will find it impossible to work under this corrupt, inept and stupid leader.
Zardari had every reason to eliminate Benazir Bhutto and he should be thoroughly investigated.
December 30, 2007 at 5:33 pm
“Bill, [m]y comment does not equal taking a pot-shot at the US. It is simply reality. It is not a question of whether the US should support Musharraf. It is a statement that the US does support the regime currently.”
Actually, Awake, your original statement was, quote, “Mushi is probably a dead-man-walking…unless he kowtows to the US for protection at this point. That is not difficult to grasp.”
What that has to do with the U.S. supporting *THE REGIME* I really have no idea. (*SMILE*)
One thing easy enough for me to “grasp” is that you failed to address the question of what U.S. policy towards Pakistan should be. (*SHRUG*)
Wanna try again…???
BILL
December 30, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Bhutto was also a shia by the way.
December 30, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Bhuttos’ are a famous for failure, criminality, murder, and the support of Harvard and Oxford as much as they are for processions among desparate and oppressed mobs.
This appears to be the legacy to critics inside and outside Pakistan. In relation to Ms Bhutto (or Zardari) the Militants quoted the hadith, ‘never trust your affairs to a women…’
Yet an American historian followed the spirit of that blessed statement and said Ms Bhutto must be seen as ‘one of the most incompetent leaders in the history of South Asia’.
In her defence, we may say there have not been many women leaders of South Asia.
There is however a list of documents, beginning in her grandfather’s political career, continuing in her father’s, not stopping with her husband’s, and still piling up at the moment her assassin ended her life, which indicate fraud, murder and familial treachery, deciet and bloodshed.
That is only in Pakistan. A league of Swiss, French, Polish prosecutors have not concluded their verdics on the spectacular bank accounts in her husband’s name and signed during her periods of Office.
She was a Shia (nominally perhaps, and Allah know’s best) as is her husband (reputedly a ‘playboy’) as was the founder of Pakistan (Jinnah, who married a Parsi and whose grand-daughter is a Parsi ). Her grandmother was a Hindu; her gradfather close to the Raj British; while she and her father were schooled not in Ithnari Asharii Shi’a traditions, but in Catholic institutes and famous Anglo-American universities.
It is here we find the confusion of modern Pakistan. With her background, the beautiful lady should have remained in the Gulf, living peacefully and lavishly.
Names are words and words are names and Allah knows the secrets of the heart. May Allah forgive me if these words hurt the innocent.
December 30, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Crocodile tears as usual. Bhutto should have been tried for every crime she, and he husband “Mr.Ten percent” did. Instead why the fake sainthood? Don’t people read history books anymore? Clowns like “Brooklyn Moe” can’t obscure the fact that Benazir was a corrupt and murderous(look up her record in Sindh alone) woman wanting power at all costs. Welcome to South East Asian politics.
Enough tears for the mafia.
December 31, 2007 at 12:39 pm
The proof is in the pudding folks. What did the Bhutto’s party do after her death? They quickly appointed the most experienced person in Pakistan to fill her spot!
Who might this vastly experienced and educated person be? Why of course it was her 19 year old son who will not take over the duties of the spot until he finishes his degree.
More proof of EXACTLY why Pakistan and other Muslim countries are so messed up. With millions of people in Pakistan, they pick her uneducated and unexperienced son to pick up the reins.
The Pakistan People’s Party is not a political party, it is a one family dynastic tool.
December 31, 2007 at 1:08 pm
My prayers are also with the people of Pakistan at this time. It is a sad time for the common man, is it not?
Tammy Swofford
December 31, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I think Juan Cole covers it well:
“The Pakistan People’s Party was created in the late 1960s by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and has all along been led by that family and its retainers…..
The PPP during the past two decades has been internally split between a rising middle class urban leadership and the old landowning families. An alternative to Fahim would have been the smart Punjabi lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, who was jailed for protesting the dismissal of the justices, and is admired by a lot of the urban activists. Despite Benazir’s own education abroad, her instincts (and now those of her widower) was always to “run the feudals,” and to depend on the landlords’ ability to get out the vote among their own (largely illiterate and repressed) peasants.
The PPP leadership had a chance to become the party of the future and to galvanize the new middle class, which has spearheaded the challenge to Musharraf over his gutting of the judiciary. It has instead run the feudals again. Fahim seems to me unlikely to generate the sort of excitement that Aitzaz Ahsan would have. But then, the PPP will probably get a big sympathy vote. Once in power, however, unless it pursues policies that benefit urban classes, it will find itself eclipsed.”
December 31, 2007 at 7:01 pm
BEFORE JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON BLAMING ISLAM AND MUSLIMS
FOR BHUTTO MURDER, ASK DOES THE HIDDEN HAND OF SHAITAN COME
INTO OUR MINDS
“There is a group of you who propagated the lie. Do not suppose it to be bad for you; rather it is good for you. Every one of them will incur the evil he has earned and the one who took it on himself to amplify it will receive a terrible punishment. (Surat an-Nur: 11)”
POSTED EDITED AND WRITTEN BY IBN HAQQ RIHAZ RESEARCH
BECAUSE IT MUST NEVER COME TO THIS!Please Massa we got to stop dem RIHAZ MUUSLIMS
In the world we live in a problem exists that is threatening social peace and harmony in every nation big or small: moral degeneration. In other words, people have forsaken moral qualities like being good, righteous, honest, forgiving, just, compassionate and honorable, in exchange for immorality and have chosen amorality as a life philosophy.
The common view, which is true to some extent, that moral degeneration is an inevitable occurrence caused by the bad living conditions prevailing in society, does not provide a clear picture in relation to the causes and solutions to the problem because it fails to take into account a fundamental reality. It views social collapse as an independent phenomenon governed by its own internal processes, whereas the moral degeneration experienced in many countries of the world is deliberately directed and supported by a powerful body of people held together by a complex network of intricate relations and nefarious connections. IT IGNORES THE SOURCE HIZB UL SHAITAN.This party
Of satan is behind the scene of all chaos.
Education projects, seminars and campaigns, run by either the state or various non-governmental organizations aim to curb the effect of moral degeneration. However, these efforts have mostly failed to have a lasting effect. Moral degeneration is gaining momentum by the day because solutions are being sought in the wrong places and therefore these efforts end up in a vicious circle.
The most important reason for this vicious circle is that those groups or individuals seeking to combat decadence fail to appreciate the degree to which it is being purposely encouraged and directed. MUSLIMS have no excuse because we have the QURAN and the example of PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W).
He Stated That The Qur’an Was Good News And Guidance For Muslims
A relevant verse reads:
Say: “The Holy Spirit brought it down from your Lord in truth, to reassure the faithful, and to give guidance and good news for the Muslims.” ( Surat an-Nahl, 102)
The Prophet (saas) also stressed the importance of obedience in the hadiths: “Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah, and whoever obeys the ruler I appoint, obeys me, and whoever disobeys him, disobeys me.” (Sahih Bukhari) For this reason, obedience to the messenger is at the heart religion and showing this obedience surely comes about through strict submissiveness to the issues conveyed by messengers.
YOU ASK BUT WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BHUTTOS MURDER
Occasionally members of the party of satan can find themselves face to face with events which threaten to expose their wicked way of life. Considered to be very dangerous in cases like these, one of their most commonly used tactics is to resort to assignation in order to save themselves. The UMMAH surely remembers UMAR (R.A) UTHMAN (R.A) and ALI (R.A) .These brave companions were killed by the enemies of Haqq.Today we have seen the maryrtodom of many Muslims who stood against BATIL.
Everyone who has studied the situation knows the West brought Bhutto back to serve their interest. Islam is a perfect system that has no need of democracy. The Qur’an’s description of Satan’s behavior reveals the diabolical nature of this strategy. Satan too is a creature who lies, throws tantrums, provokes and confuses people with his trickery:
Do you not see that We send the satans against those who disbelieve to goad them on? (Qur’an, 19: 83)
Stir up any of them you can with your voice and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry and share with them in their children and their wealth and make them promises! The promise of Satan is nothing but delusion. (Qur’an, 17: 64)
Here is how shaitan works today
1) A government creates and takes advantage of a problem or crisis (terrorism is the perfect example).
2) After news media repetition, the population reacts by asking the government to fix the problem.
3) The government finally offers the solution, which was planned long before the crisis was created
Creating a lie too seemingly absurd to have been contrived that everyone will have to believe its true is the principle behind the Big Lie theory. The opposite of that is creating a reality so absurd that no one will believe it. The latter is the guiding principle behind government “Black Ops.”
Normally dismissed by rational people as the product of an overactive imagination, the existence of “Black” operations, or the intelligence operations of a government to inflict violence and destruction upon its citizens (or those of a friendly country) to create a pretext for desired military intervention, has been documented in recent history.
Take Operation Northwoods. According to an ABC News report on November 7, 2001, “In the early 1960s, America’s top military leaders reportedly drafted plans to kill innocent people and commit acts of terrorism in U.S. cities to create public support for a war against Cuba.” Certainly there are those in the intelligence and political establishments who value the utility of “Black” intelligence ops, especially when the stakes are so high: the seizure of the world’s wealth and resources, empire building, global economic superiority, and cultural imperialism. A country that touts itself as a beacon for human rights and the rule of international law and legitimacy cannot launch attacks against other countries without a pretext. So, if one doesn’t exist, it must be created.
The lady was corrupt and was convicted in at least one country outside of Pakistan . The idea that she was a solution to the problems, rather than actually part of the problem, is a joke.
Take a look at the picture below. No, it is not a mosque, it is not a shrine built to a holy man, a saint, nor is it a cathedral, it is the tomb built for her father and where she is now buried.
In country where millions do not have enough to eat, in a country where there is little or no access to healthcare for the masses, her family spent millions to build what looks like a miny Taj Mahal to cover the place where one man is built.
You can ignore the fact that building such buildings for the dead is haram in Islam, but you’d also have to ignore the fact that the millions and millions used to build the place was probably stolen from the poor of Pakistan .
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44323000/jpg/_44323667_mausoleum_afp_416.jp
Also there was an Israeli connection. Israeli media reports on Friday revealed that slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto intended to establish official relations with the Jewish state if elected and was seeking Mossad protection in the interim.
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert grieved over Bhutto’s assassination following an election rally on Thursday, and said that upon her return to Pakistan in October after years of exile Bhutto conveyed to him via a mutual acquaintance that she wanted close ties between Israel and Pakistan .
The Hebrew daily newspaper Ma’ariv further revealed that Bhutto had asked Israel ’s Mossad spy agency, along with the CIA and Britain ’s Scotland Yard, to help protect her in the run-up to Pakistan ’s January 8 election. Bhutto complained that current Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was trying to make her an easy target for assassination by not allowing her to use adequate protective measures.
According to the report, Israel ’s Foreign Ministry was in favor of aiding Bhutto, though the government ultimately decided against it for fear of angering the Musharraf regime and upsetting relations with neighboring India , a close ally of Israel engaged in an ongoing bitter confrontation with Pakistan .
Israeli leaders lamented that Bhutto, a popular former prime minister who was twice deposed by authoritarian elements, could have served as a bridge between Israel and the Muslim world.
Don’t lionize Bhutto - she is NOT what the media is presenting (latest distraction)…an aristocrat who cares for the poor of Pakistan . She did ZERO for them during her two terms as Prime Minister - where she lived in a $50 million dollar mansion. Ms. Bhutto comes from a very wealthy Pakistani family (feudal landlord). She went to Radcliff - Harvard - Oxford .
The officials in Pakistan (including Prime Minister) live high on the hog amidst such dire poverty! Ms. Bhutto lived in a $50 million dollar mansion, talking about the poor. As Prime Minister she did zero. Just a fact - she’s who the media has created her to be for this MOMENT in time - and people are buying it. Smoke and Mirrors rules the day.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS—- BHUTTOS HOMES
Before becoming maudlin over her death (any death is tragic - many others died besides her) - you should take the TIME to read what Democracy Now (one semi-trusted news source) and the interview with Tarqui Ali (Pakistani historian). Tarqui should know - NOT these talking PR heads on TV who has never been to Pakistan !
Also, if you want to be informed (Google) take the time to read the in-depth (great) expose that was done Jan 9,1998 - New York Times, ‘House of Graft: Tracing the Bhutto Millions’. Now there’s a story for you –$1.3 billion siphoned out of Pakistan by Bhutto (husband Asif Zardari) - documented by Swiss accounts - investigations by Interpol - France - Spain - and the UK . Ms. Bhutto’s husband was known as Mr. 10% because of the graft he took on all government contracts!
They have homes everywhere - including a 350 acre estate in the UK , a mansion in Dubai on the Arabian Sea , etc. It is astounding (at least to me) the intrigue and corruption (from everywhere) that goes on in these deals. Musharraf granted Bhutto, her husband, associated politicians and bureaucrats involved in this vast money-laundering (theft from Pakistan) a full Presidential pardon (amnesty) which would ‘unlock’ the countless millions they have stashed in various accounts as determined by investigations done by numerous countries. You KNOW he didn’t grant the pardons without a GREEN light from the BIG BOYS (global). This was a Made for TV Martyrdom.
Would that there had been more people with a vestige of good among the generations of those who came before you, who forbade corruption in the earth, other than the few among them whom We saved… (Qur’an, 11: 116)
We need Muslim leaders who fear ALLAH. Covetousness for the world accounts for people’s cruelties and immoralities. The main worry of many people is about becoming poor, or having no guarantee of their future. These concerns essentially explain why bribery, corruption, theft, false witnessing and prostitution become ways of life for many people. For someone who has faith in Allah, however, the approval of Allah is over and above everything else. Such a person avoids anything that will cause him to lose the approval of Allah. In his heart, he only harbors fear of Allah; neither death, nor hunger, nor any other hardship can divert him from the right path.
Consequently, no matter what the circumstances, a person having fear of Allah never deviates from the Qur’an. Equally, he is trustworthy. He always acts conscientiously. Having a profound sense that Allah sees and hears everything, he does not attempt to act against his conscience even when alone.
ALLAH SAYS …Those who misappropriate will arrive on the Day of Rising with what they have misappropriated. Then every self will be paid in full for what it earned. They will not be wronged. Is someone who pursues the pleasure of Allah the same as someone who incurs displeasure from Allah and whose refuge is Hell? What an evil destination! (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 161-162)
I AM NOT MAKING LIGHT OF THIS DEATH JUST DON’T JUMP ON SHAITANS BANDWAGON
December 31, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Dear brother Assalam o alaikum Benazir shadat is ultimate sacrifice which one can offer to his nation and peoples.This very nation and people knows her struggle and bravery to achieve democracy and economic justice for poors in Pakistan .Brother you may not understand this unless you are born in a poor family in Pakistan . Please do not blame her for corruption as these were all fabricated lies by the establishment. The very same establishment which now try to cover up her death circumtances. She was symbol of unity in the country .She was ray of hope for millions of poors in Pakistan . She was honest dedicated mother who looked after 3 kids in exile , she was faithful wife who lived alone while her husband was in jail for 8 years.To me she was sincere to her cause and she was sincere to Almighty Allah . I have not seen such a spiritual Muslim leader who does not feel shy to raised her hand to Allah for prayer and help in public. She was educated and with faith..Please watch her few last videos and try to read her personality and faith on her face, but remember do this with neutral eyes and not through the glasses of prejudice which myself wore until recently.
Her father truly said “there are two Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto one myself and one in all of you”.
Cheers
Dr Manzoor
January 1, 2008 at 12:22 am
I agree Abu Sinan,
“More proof of EXACTLY why Pakistan and other Muslim countries are so messed up. With millions of people in Pakistan, they pick her uneducated and unexperienced son to pick up the reins.”
That kid should resign and go practice his cricket game or something.
January 1, 2008 at 9:01 am
Dr Manzoor, you must be on crack, or the PPP’s payroll, or both. I haven’t read such feeble minded propaganda in a while. Yes, I’m sure life was tough for Benazir in exile…with billions of dollars stolen from Pakistan. Notice how Benazir’s son(can barely speak urdu and seems better suited as a spokesman for OxyClean zit removal creme) has been made boss of the party along with her husband Mr.10% Asif Zardari. More proof then ever of the mafia like character of the PPP.
January 1, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Pakistan is a very complex country .You have big landowners or you can say feudal lords.Big cities with many educauted people but also many poor people.Assantion’s even amongst different religious organzations is a norm.Shite and sunni groups still battle it out sometimes even blowing up each others places of worship.Violating the protocols of Islamic scared law.Pakistan was founded on islamic law but it hasn’t carried this out.Benazair Bhutto murder was no surprise.The party she belonged to was rife with corruption and incompetence.That does mean I’m justifying her murder and others who will killed last Thusday evening.Dr.Israr Ahmad stated in many of his sermon’s that Pakistan is under a divine punishment for betraying want they pledge to be about in their constition.A nation that was founded to uphold the Quran and sunnah.Unfortunely this has never happened.We prayed to Allah that this nation turn back to his obedience so they will have sucess.
January 2, 2008 at 1:00 am
Bill,
Sorry, I was away for a bit. I think the US shhould continue to support Musharraf with ultimatums. I am not the only one who suspects he has been playing both sides in recent history.
The concern is obviously about the nukes. That is a problem.
Assuming that the nukes weren’t there, I simply would cut off the jizya to Pakistan in totality. Not another dime. Since the US is always accused of meddling, I think a clean brake is in order.
Not to be a stickler Bill, but your last question was posed to the entire community, not directly at me, as you can see by your words below:
“What SHOULD our policy towards Pakistan be? Any thoughts, anyone???”
Regards,
awake
January 2, 2008 at 9:01 am
Salam -
We all know democracy will NOT work in the Middle East, especially Pakistan, Saudi, Iraq, Afghanistan and the little sand dunes. Democracy is a concept that most Pakis don’t understand. Middle Easterners; unfortunately are better manage under an iron-fist.
I am 99% sure that the Bush administration (if they really understand third world politics) will certainly support Musharraf, because Pakistan has been in better shape under him (and under Military occupation) in maintaining civil order and economic growth, but knowing Bush he might jump unto the Mother “Teresa” Bhutto’s wagon and thus creating streams that will lead world war iii, why? Pakis have nukes and so does India.
When Pakistanis -
1. Learn how to form waiting lines
2. Stop bragging about Pashtunism (I don’t see what’s all the bragging about)
3. Stop Tribal crap
4. Stop the pride-chanting of !Pakistan Zindabad!
5. Stop claiming your great-great-great-great-great grandfather was Genghis Kan
6. Stop Force marriages (let the sister agree to it without guilt trip)
7. Stop the hideous unislamic Honor Killings
8. Stop wearing multi-mirror Kufis (please wear Kufis bigger than Yarmulkes’)
9. Stop the idiot protesters with burning flags that look ugly and evil on TV (defaming Islam)
10. Finally, take showers before prayers Bhaa’i—cuz you smell goat-curry.
Than Maybe—MAYBE democracy has a micro-tiny chance to emerge in Pakistan.
Khudafez
January 2, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Thanks, Awake! (*GRIN*)
I agree that the U.S. is too meddlesome abroad. A primary example… perhaps if we hadn’t kept fairly large numbers of our military forces based in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East after the First Gulf War Osama and al-Qaeda wouldn’t have gone after us here in our homeland on 9/11/01.
But sticking to Pakistan… I fear we’re stuck supporting Musharraf or his military successor not simply as a surrogate in the supposed “War On Terror,” but also - and ultimately of far greater importance - to be in a position to ride roughshot over future probable Indian/Pakistani military brinksmanship.
I agree with you, Awake… Musharraf is neither the perfect ally nor can we (America) fully “trust” him - basically because even if he wanted to be the perfect ally to America… the internal situation simply doesn’t allow it. Musharraf has a tenuous hold on power at the best of times - and unfortunately the same would apply to anyone who follows him as “leader” of Pakistan. And there’s the rub… there ARE no “perfect” options for the U.S. and if we were to simply wash our hands of the situation and disengage… then I fear that would make a future military - perhaps nuclear - confrontation between Pakistan and India MORE likely, not less likely.
“The concern is obviously about the nukes. That is a problem.”
Yep. We’re on the same page. (*SHRUG*)
BILL
January 5, 2008 at 7:24 am
From the NYT (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/weekinreview/30bumiller.html):
“On that same trip, Mr. Galbraith introduced Ms. Bhutto to Mark Siegel, a political operative who had been executive director of the Democratic National Committee. Mr. Siegel was taken with Ms. Bhutto and supported her cause. He became a lobbyist for the government of Pakistan when Ms. Bhutto was in power. Most recently he was her collaborator on a book scheduled for publication in 2008.”
March 6, 2008 at 11:47 pm
She was Isma’ili, that means she was never Muslim. An American puppet, she deserved to be removed, from my point of view, just like the enemy believed they had to remove Saddam Hussain from the scene.
Good riddance. ALLAHU AKBAR.
May 3, 2008 at 9:14 pm
i agree with most of the people when they say,that ms bhutto should not be canonized as a fighter of democracy as she did nothing for the people during her two tenures,rather amassed ill-gotten wealth and was involved in high corruption charges.i want to draw ur attention two an important facet which non touched.during ms bhutto’s reign her brother ,with whom she was very much attached and the sole surviving brother,was murdered.before that incident there were news of murtaza’s(brother of bb) serious misunderstandings with zardari(hubby of bb).news were that zardari had to shave his moustache as a result of some defamatory assault by murtaza or his followers.it was also reared that on a property dispute between bb and murtaza,zardari had to come to the rescue of his wife.zardari was pardoned by musharraf and zardari was then very careful in giving his opinion about musharraf.as ppp in pakistan is known for its liberal social and anti islam policies.therefore for americans she was the best choice as chracter traits of bb and her partry high ups match quite well with musharraf and ultimately americans.in order to create sympathy for ppp and zardari bb was assasinated just before elections.the game payef off as election were won by the ppp.now zardari(mr 10%) is the probablr prime minister of pakistan for following reasons.1)being a lustful individual ,on pretext of amassing more money through power he decided to do away with his wife,with which he had no emotional attachment…such like people only love money.2)on the issue of judges zardari is not dancibg to the tunes of his coalition and the lawyers movement in pakistan.3)by becoming the pm of pakistan he will fill his accounts with money ,his aim in life.4)through NRO(NATIONAL RECONCILIATORY ORDINANCE),zadari has been pardoned in all cases,so how can he be ungrateful to mushi and his judges who took oath under emergency.5)ultimately zardari has to run american course here.he may do the things his own way but has given an implicit assurance to mushi and US led west of pursuance of there policies,which may be to have the nuclear button be monitored by the US…..there is so much more to add but INSHALLAH,i’ll do it after 7th july.plz reply