ISLAM AGAMA SYUMUL

Early reports indicate that she was shot in the chest and neck prior to an explosion as she left the rally, which killed up to 15 other people. The death of Benazir follows an earlier attempt on her life in October when she returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile at the height of the judicial crisis engulfing the Musharraf regime.

Predictably blaming "Islamic terrorists" for the assassination, the dictator Musharraf appealed for calm and unity on state TV while his security forces were washing the crime scene of vital evidence in full view of international television. In line with the war on terror, the western media have already concluded that the assassination was the work of Islamic militants whereas Benazir herself believed that the Pakistani intelligence services were involved in the October attack and the people on the streets of Pakistan today are clearly holding the Musharraf government responsible for her death shouting the slogans "Musharraf dog-Musharraf murderer!" Even former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sheriff, has blamed Musharraf for Bhutto's assassination claiming that he will assist the Pakistani people in taking "revenge on the rulers!"

While it remains unclear who was responsible for the assassination of Benazir at this time, the killing of a major political figure in the run up to national elections highlights the speed with which Pakistan is descending into a state of chaos, potentially leading to civil war. The dirty politics, which has plagued Pakistan over the last 60 years, characterised by continual western interference, offers its beleaguered people no future and no hope for progress. Is it not time for Pakistan to radically change its politics and bring in a new era of Islamic unity under the Khilafah?