We have all read the news lately, the passing of Benazir Bhutto, the country's most respected former prime minister and moderate politician has caused a rise of bloodlust amongst its people and the nation has descended into chaos.

On today's news, a reported confirmed of 32 deaths and multiple other injuries and heavy losses were incurred as riots, supporters and hooligans vent their anger towards the police, the government.

The rioters, some of them blamed Pervez Musharraf for the collaborative effort to kill her in this suicide attack, uncomfirmed reports showed Al-Qaeda being the usual suspect, and some even suspected the Zia has a hand in this political turmoil.

With her leadership gone, the PPP now suffers an empty seat, the light has been diminished, and the seat left empty as people begin to panic and the upcoming elections are tainted in sins of blood, what happens now?

- This thread: -

Please state what you view of this issue.
How do you think the issue should be handled now?
Who do you think should be taken up to replace her place?
Is Pervez Musharaf really behind this?
Or has Al-Qaeda really be the suspect, and problem?
Who can be the next leader if Pervez Musharaf resigns according to the protesters demands?
Should the elections be delayed for the sake of settling the issue?

I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of riots all around. It's going to be very messy...

Unless they find the culprit, speculation won't really get them anywhere. It's only cause more problems.
The only way that this is going to settle down is
1) They find the culprit (hopefully it will die down)
2) Someone capable rises up (This will probably not happen)
3) A lot of time passes...

From what I see now it's probably going to be 3... Seems that Al-Qaeda denied that it's their doing... Doubt that 1, 2 is going to happen.

1) They find the culprit (hopefully it will die down)
2) Someone capable rises up (This will probably not happen)
3) A lot of time passes...

Investigations are ongoing now, but I do doubt it being the case of number one, if my guess is correct, punishing the culprit would actually bring nothing, the people needed a leader, one that can be trusted as Benazir.

On the second, I somehow think that the next in line would be someone from the PPP, but the party is broken as of now, it doesn't seem like the case of anyone being able to take the lead will be in anytime near.

On the passing of time, I reckon that being a dangerous notion, they need to settle it as soon as possible, given that the turmoil has already spread all across the nation, and being one of US most relied on allies, it would be a pain to the economy. (plus US suffering an economic slowdown now)

How do you think the issue should be handled now?

well ummm...i think the voting should be stop for a while to respect the decease?

Who do you think should be taken up to replace her place?

ummmmmm actually i only know her

Is Pervez Musharaf really behind this?

if hes the 2nd popular i think so!

Or has Al-Qaeda really be the suspect, and problem?

uhhhhhh......

Who can be the next leader if Pervez Musharaf resigns according to the protesters demands?

ummmmm....

Should the elections be delayed for the sake of settling the issue?

yes!

I live in Pakistan (the place where Bhutto got pwned)..It sucks!..Riots!!

Haha omg, that sucks alright. I supposed PPP will be reeling from her loss for quite a while, just nice for the current PM to win the elections perhaps? I find it too convinient for her to do now, and a little disturbing. If we were to look back at the actions of the AQ, it's not their style to deny their actions, since they'll want the whole world to see the senseless devastation they cause. If it really were them they'd have declared it all over the world. Therefore the question now is, who else might have the motive to eliminate the threat she poses? And how is it that this shadowy figure has access to suicide bombers. TErrifying thought..

I live in Pakistan (the place where Bhutto got pwned)..It sucks!..Riots!!

I am expecting by tomorrow, most of the news would have reported of more properties burning for nothing.
I hope your country people stop doing what is illogical, burning busses is really not the idea Benazir was pushing for.

Before I say anything, I scored 91% in my History final exam, and even though, I don't know much about the situation. I remember studying how Bhutto was exiled to somewhere for some reason. I don't know why the area there is so unstable, but I've heard that people who are rioting right now are upset because Bhutto promised the region democracy, so I'm assuming there's no political democracy in Pakistan right now, nor in the neighboring regions. So my bottom line - I don't know much about the situation right now.

Please state what you view of this issue:
Hmm, well I'm Chinese so I'm obviously not as concerned as, say, Pakistanis out there, but yeah if Bhutto promised Pakistan democracy, then yeah, that would suck to have lost her. I guess the bottom line is, we wish Bhutto wasn't assassinated.

How do you think the issue should be handled now?
Personally, I think the police or military of Pakistan should step in and stop the riots somehow. Like I said, I'm not well-versed in the situation or Pakistan's history so I have no idea how strong their military is etc. Judging from the videos they show on CNN, the police/military have no control over the riots. Maybe some kind of non-lethal way of dealing with the problem like dispersing tear gas or something...

Who do you think should be taken up to replace her place?
Someone within Bhutto's party.

Is Pervez Musharaf really behind this?
It's not impossible, but I'd put my blame on the Al-Qaeda, since Bhutto promised Pakistan democracy, it would make sense that Al-Qaeda would see this as a threat, because I remember hearing on the news that Al-Qaeda forces use Pakistan as a "safe haven", travelling between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Who can be the next leader if Pervez Musharaf resigns according to the protesters demands?
Someone within Bhutto's party. Having studied history, I remember how some countries in the past have had a government where there was no concrete leader and the whole country was run by a panel of politicians. My memory is very vague, so I can't remember exactly when or what country it was...Could Bhutto's party and Musharaf's party work together in a coalition government in the meantime?

Should the elections be delayed for the sake of settling the issue?
I don't think so, because that'll just worsen the riots.

Well, in terms of parties working together that much, I say it is impossible.
Pervez Musharaf has shown countless times he is working together, yet there is no visible evidence or any previously shown outward happenings of the two parties (tho claimed to be moderates, but are generally less than so) the democracy just doesn't seem to happen with the two working together.

(especially since Pervez appointed himself Prime Minister in the first place and has more than once been found (evidently or otherwise) playing against the poll (rigged results))

Benazir promised a democracy to a country that is least likely to get it, until Pervez Musharaf can resign his views on the country, which he obviously holds some sort of veto power in recent times, there will be no peace for the two.

Speaking of which, latest developments indicate that Benazir passed power to her husband, Karzardir or some name as such (not very popular), but the Husband has passed power to the son, a 19 year old who nows vows to take revenge by implementing democracy according to "the will of the people"

My worry would come if he is at all capable instead of becoming another Pawn to the dark world of politics.
Although most Mid-Eastern countries have shown in previous cases that they simply worship the lineage of the political family, I do hope they do not place false hope on an angered 19 year old son who just lost a famous mother.

Not that I am Pakistani, but I do worry for the economic failure, Pakistan has been one of the partners for international trade to our nation, and I am afraid to say if things go wrong, the country descends into any US-Iraq conflict stage, both civil warfare and international meddlings may cripple its stand and render it more than worse situations than its already is

Since when was Pakistan part of the Middle East?