How Benazir pull the wool over nation's eyes "“ Sadly! befooled herself

By: Earthman, International Professor

The Chief Justice summoned the Mush in judges appointment case and being a drowning man he tried to catch straw, used name of Benazir, as a result of which some peoples are making hullabaloo particularly the town criers, slaves of the declining ruling dynasty, driven out political orphans of monarch, clowns, buffoon and satirists have started proclamation on drums that "how Mush dared to equate himself with Benazir" and "how a retrospective retired Govt. servant dared to challenge the writ of an imperialists prequalified throne, to a new colonial viceroy". His crime are considered to be more severe since he has been abandoned by his overseas employers; those are agitating and demanding that he is liable to be killed, hanged or dragged in courts. Is it not laughing that those peoples are shrieking today! Which had no courage to even sit in front of any uniformed Sergeant a few days back? This power has been given by honest judges and courts.

We have firm belief that whenever cruelty and oppression crosses its limits, nature comes into action, it punishes barbarians or made them an admonition for the coming generations. Generals, the shedders of blood of innocent peoples of Pakistan would also be in a queue to receive the punishment of their part in crimes against humanity one day. History is witness that God always send a Moses for every Pharos and all the times reprimand is their fate. Sikandar Mirza, Ayub Khan, Zia ul Haq, Musharraf and now Kiyani type peoples did not believe on heaven or mercy of God, their motto is might is right. Such peoples did not believe on justice and courts which are obligation to any civilized society, Musharraf and Kiyani both are equally responsible in committing crimes on behest of Bush and Blair, and today Zardari, Gaillani and Kiyani are repeating history. Those have no value of human life, Mush has started to harvest and troika will soon face wrath of God as well.

We should not feel pleasure when God punishes such peoples; it is an admonition for others. The case of Mush and death of Benazir is a lesson for generations to learn advantages of true path based on ethics. Crimes of Benazir are like a seed of molehill comparing with Mush, if anybody may chat about crimes and circumstances those would be or could be a factor in her elimination prior to her murder, including her immeasurable wealth, pretty political legacy, and who invited international players to play with her fate who were the masters of snake and ladder games. Her over clever day to day advisors advised her at many occasions to get rid of Zardari. Her nature of bullying to ever-increasing political enemies and perilous double life style by posing moderate or liberal in front of West but in fact practicing most superstitious life style, who had a firm belief on illiterate fraud saints and was seen worshipping graves.

Behind the scene Mr. Zardari, the real don, made her hackney to get rid of his crimes and let her drag in front of fascist generals immodestly which later exposed their aspirations. She bullied everyone including Mush, Zia remnants, Chief Justice, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, girls of Lal Masjid, Taliban, peoples of FATA, Lawyers and their movement. Her friends in media befooled her by providing fake lists of would be her killers on sectarian abhorrence. Political blunders like breaking ARD, rejecting JUI F, JI, PTI and other political leaders at London, embracing terrorists of MQM and ANP type anti-state elements, raising non-issues like moderation vs. conservatives. On the whole she trusted snake charmers like Mush and Kiyani, knowingly that those had poisonous snakes in their fold, she has been revolving her robe of honor provided by imperialists like blind persons stick to hit every one, including establishment and pillars of Mush. Took advantage of confrontation between Mush and Shariff, and after his deportation she tried hard to permanently block entry of Mian Nawaz Shariff back in politics, and a prominent clause in her wish list was about exiled politicians, which states that exiled politicians should not be allowed to participate in elections. 

To judge intensity of allegations against Benazir some media reports are being collected, highlighting her activities soon before her murder, reports are witness that her each wrong steps in the direction of saving money and crimes of Zardari was for below the standard of a politician of her caliber. What pressure she had that caused to lose her pride and devalued her father's legacy perhaps some answers following news items may provide.

A dangerous suggestion to BB "“ breaking wedlock with Zardari was like keeping foot on the tail of serpent:

Peoples who suggested that Benazir must kick out Zardari for revival of her drowned reputation are still alive, remember by cast Zardari's are known as camel herders, who inherit enmity of camels as well that is why he always attacks from the back side, he made hoodwink to Mian Nawaz Shariff who is still licking his wounds. And none around Zardari has respect for Benazir; don't be fooled by their lips service it is a fact. After her murder he jumped in the boat of Mush, Kiyani and Shuja Pasha Mafia for the safety and security of himself and looted wealth, to divert attention of peoples from his crimes. There are some hidden factors of her death which could help investigators; unfortunately Rahman Malik, the suspect, has taken custody of all evidences of crime scene, which has been made authority to manipulate her murder case under instructions of his boss as per political requirement of the time and use delaying tactics to linger the case till final success in sucking entire resources of Govt. of Pakistan. Zardari was a pygmy in front of Benazir, who is trying to pull off every advantage of Bhutto legacy, his inferiority complex did not allow him to directly occupy seat of Chairman PPP, so he used mean method of Benazir's will, changed caste of his son, lamentation on killing of wife, alterations in nominations of murderers is for political reasons and monetary gains only, as such UNO's enquiry is the last ditch on his way.

During her tenure she tried to involve Chief of General Staff and Vice chief of Staff in corruption case.       

12-09-2005: PPP moves NAB against Ahsan Saleem Hayat and Tariq Majeed Butcher.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said on Sunday it had filed a petition against General Tariq Majid, the chief of general staff, and General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, the vice chief of army staff, for allegedly "causing financial losses to the national exchequer through corruption" and demanded action against them under Section 10 of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-9-2005_pg7_4

Some selected events in chronological order with reference would give you an idea that how Benazir had been trying to save crimes of Zardari, and her men in media had been trying to damn fool public:

30-07-2007: Govt. confirms contacts between Musharraf and PPPP

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has finally confirmed contacts between President General Musharraf and PPPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi. 30-07-07: No confirmation, no refutation about meeting with Musharraf unless definite outcome comes out: Benazir. ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto while describing the reports about her meeting with General Musharraf in Abu Dhabi sheer speculations has said media is giving exaggerated reports on this count.

31-07-07: Necessary to reduce distances between Presidency and Parliament House: Benazir. ISLAMABAD: The chairperson PPPP and former premier Ms. Benazir Bhutto has said that contacts between PPP and President Musharraf are not new phenomena, and stressed on " Reduction of distances between Presidency and Parliament House " as  necessary for the better future of country.

01-08-2007: President Musharraf not clear about his position yet: Benazir

ISLAMABAD: Chairperson PPPP, Benazir Bhutto has confirmed her dialogue with President Pervez Musharraf in Abu Dhabi, but is still confused about his real intentions and course of action. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?185650

02-08-2007: Mother of All Deals

Benazir Bhutto has already started giving the looks of a Prime Minister. The freshness and shine has returned to her face. Her statements, though extremely confusing indicating little which way she is going, have Prime Minister's House written all over it. The arrogance of Bhuttos is back. And all this has been possible because she has struck the mother of all deals with General Pervez Musharraf, one politician said. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?185728

06-08-2007: BB`s statements against Dr Qadir just to appease US: Rashid

RAWALPINDI: Minister for railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said Benazir Bhutto has tried to appease her US masters by giving statement against Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan adding Dr Qadeer was and is a national hero of Pakistan. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?186142

16-08-2007: Benazir urges Musharraf to "speed-up commitments" due to "short time"

NEW YORK: Former Prime Minister and chairperson PPP, Benazir Bhutto has urged Musharraf to "speed up his commitments" due to the "short time" he has to fulfill them.

27-08-2007: Settled Political matters between Benazir, Tariq Aziz to be given written shape
LONDON/ISLAMABAD: Second round of talks between close aide of President Gen Musharraf and secretary National Security Council, Tariq Aziz and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has remained successful amid the report that both the sides have agreed to give final shape to different political matters by the end of this month. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?187831

29-08-2007: Benazir Bhutto demands 1/3rd representation in caretaker govt.

LONDON: The chairperson of PPP, and former PM, Benazir Bhutto has demanded a 1/3rd representation in caretaker government, and has also known to have "suggested" her "recommendations" of the caretaker PM. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?187996

29-08-2007: ISI still supports Qaeda, Taliban, says Benazir

WASHINGTON: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto has charged that elements of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) "continue the alliance with both the Taliban and Al Qaeda to this very day" on the premise that Pakistan's security requires "strategic depth" in the shape of a friendly or pliant Afghanistan.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\29\story_29-8-2007_pg7_24

29-08-2007: Several rounds of talks had taken place between the presidential emissaries and Benazir Bhutto who was also assisted by her top aides. The Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) Tariq Aziz, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Ashfaq Kiyani and Chief of Staff to the President Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Javed had flown to London two days ago for the final round of talks with Ms Bhutto.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\29\story_29-8-2007_pg1_1

29-08-2007: Kiyani, who served Ms Bhutto during her stint as PM, is presently in London, together with Tariq Aziz and Hamid Javed, for negotiations with the PPP chairperson. Musharraf's legal adviser, who confirmed the possibility of shedding the uniform, however, said there was no need of an amendment to the Constitution to waive the condition that a retired government servant could not contest the poll before the completion of two years after retirement. "Technically, that does not apply to Musharraf," the legal wizard said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=9824

29-08-2007: "In return, sources said, the government camp was seeking support of the PPP in the National Assembly to bring about a law to stop the Supreme Court of Pakistan from banning Musharraf from contesting elections in uniform and striking down of the clause that stops any government servant from taking part in politics for two years."

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=9823

29-08-2007: "The chairperson PPP has also demanded to ensure that the section of not participating in the elections in case the candidate is not present in the country would be abolished." http://nation.com.pk/daily/aug-2007/29/index1.php

31-08-2007: Govt team leaves to conclude dialogue
ISLAMABAD: Government emissaries have left for London to conclude the finale of the ongoing dialogue between Musharraf and Ms Bhutto

03-09-2007: Benazir, Tariq Aziz go for another round of talks in Dubai to break deadlock. DUBAI: PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Tariq Aziz, close envoy of General Musharraf have met here Monday to break deadlock in the negotiations

05-09-2007: Supreme Court admits petition against Benazir

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has accepted a petition against PPPP, chairperson Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari. The petition, that refers to allegations against Benazir Bhutto, for trying to retrieve documents from Swiss authorities regarding cases filed against her, was reviewed by a 7-member bench comprising of CJ, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Nawaz Abbassi, Justice Fakir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice Shakir ullah Jan, Justice M. Javed Buttar, and justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmad, while attorneys Farooq .H. Naik, Sardar Latif khosa, and Raja Shafqat Abbassi represented the petitioners. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?188599

11-09-2007: US is not trying to broker deal with Musharraf: Benazir

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan prime minister, Benazir Bhutto has said that United States was not trying to broker deal between her and General Musharraf. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?189156

14-09-2007: I Would Choose Pervez Musharraf Any Day: Benazir:

NEW DELHI: Pakistan People Party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has asserted that she cannot be sent out of the country like her political rival Nawaz Sharif. http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?189506

15-09-2007: PML-Q behind collapse of talks with govt: BenazirFormer Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that the PML-Q leadership including Ch Shujaat do not want to see restoration of democracy in the country and due to them the talks with the government failed.

14-09-2007: I cannot be deported like Nawaz Sharif: Benazir
LONDON: Chairperson PPP, Benazir Bhutto said that she cannot be deported from the country like PML (N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif . http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?189446

15-09-2007: US kills two birds with one stone

ISLAMABAD: Washington has cunningly but latently manoeuvred the Nawaz Sharif's exile to kill the proverbial two birds with one stone "“ it sowed a seed of distrust between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and smoothened the return of Benazir Bhutto by excluding her most potential political threat. In case of Benazir-Musharraf future cooperation, both the Presidency and the Pakistan People's Party informally agreed to have been facing the American pressure to strike a deal for future cooperation. Ruling PML Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has once even said that the westerns (Goray) are pressing for the Benazir-Musharraf deal to which Shujaat's party is opposing tooth and nail.
In case of Nawaz Sharif's exile, some Middle Eastern countries had seriously tried to blackout the event from the private Pakistani television channels broadcasted there. A journalist in one of these countries was clearly told by the local authorities that they are under pressure from Washington to do this. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif initially wanted to come to Islamabad after seven years of exile via Dubai but changed his mind after being warned that the Dubai authorities might divert him to Riyadh because of the American pressure. As reported earlier, the Americans expect from the president to continue wooing Benazir for an understanding despite the "odd" demands put forward by the PPP chairperson whom they say they have already pressed to support General Pervez Musharraf. Analysts believe here that ensuring the exile of Nawaz Sharif, the Americans on one side has smoothened the return of Benazir Bhutto, who would now find an open political field upon her arrival to benefit as much as is possible for her. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=72245

17-09-2007: Underhand deal to keep 'eal deal' secret : The News, ISLAMABAD: Benazir Bhutto and General Pervez Musharraf have quietly struck a new "˜deal' to keep the real power-sharing "˜deal' a secret for the time being in order to stem the growing resentment among the supporters of the two camps, sources have confirmed.  The Americans and the Britons, who are playing guarantors, have asked the two sides not to spill the beans till certain important decisions are taken. The decision to keep the new understanding about the deal secret has been taken after the backfiring of earlier public announcements by Ms Benazir Bhutto and the federal railways minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed about the deal. So much so that the claims of a deal even jeopardized the chances of Musharraf's re-election because of the unease in the ruling League. American and British guarantors are said to have cautioned both the camps not to divulge the details of these talks held in London and Dubai to avoid negative public reaction, as it might jeopardize the re-election of General Musharraf while Ms Bhutto might also lose her vote bank to some extent in the urban areas.

00-09-2007: Benazir's climb to power: US repeat itself

ISLAMABAD: History is unkindly repeating itself as far as former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's bid to climb to power and straighten out her relations with the president of the day (being representative of the establishment) are concerned.
US Assistant Secretary of States for South Asia Richard Boucher has dashed unannounced to Islamabad to believably hurry up the conclusion of a deal or power-sharing formula between Musharraf and Benazir. While Boucher is likely to be around, busy in consultations with senior Pakistani and political leaders when US Deputy Secretary of State John D Negroponte would land here on September 12 to pay an officially announced visit for strategic dialogue. He last visited Pakistan in June this year. Boucher has to rush to Islamabad to "encourage" the presidential side to put in the parleys the element of sincerity and not drag the finalisation of the deal any more.
This time, they are here before the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan. But their colleagues, the two Richards "” Richard Armitage, assistant secretary for defence and international affairs, and Richard Murphy, assistant secretary for Near East of the time "” dispatched by President Ronald Reagan, had air-dashed to Islamabad way back on November 28, 1988, after the parliamentary elections and successfully brokered a "package deal." The pair had represented two powerful arms of the Reagan administration "” Pentagon and the State Department. Pentagon is known for having relations with Pakistan's General Headquarters.

In his recently launched book, Glimpses into the Corridors of Power, former foreign minister Gohar Ayub describes how the Americans had ensured Benazir's appointment as the prime minister in 1988. He wrote that President Reagan had recommended Benazir's name for the premiership and sent a letter for the purpose to Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who nominated her three days after receiving it. Gohar Ayub noted that Armitage had flown into Pakistan carrying two letters: one was for Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the other for Benazir Bhutto. "I hope you become the prime minister," read the postscript of Reagan's letter to Benazir sent through Armitage. Later, I would tease Benazir, saying that she became prime minister on a postscript note," he wrote. "At a dinner at the American embassy that night, Armitage took me aside and told me that he was carrying two letters: one was for the president and the other for Benazir Bhutto. I asked what the letter to Benazir contained."
Armitage told him that it was a congratulatory note from President Reagan with a postscript that read: "I hope you become the prime minister." "I am sure the message in the letter to President Ghulam Ishaq Khan was no less clear," Gohar Ayub wrote. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=9991

Richard Boucher"adviser to Benazir": With the arrival of US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher in Islamabad, some independent analysts say he might play a role in bringing Musharraf and Benazir again on the negotiating table. Boucher is considered "adviser to Benazir", as she only pays attention to his advices. On the contrary, she did not pay any respect to the PPP leaders and it was the main reason that the party stalwarts like Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Raza Rabbani kept themselves away from this "deal dialogue". http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=9997

01-10-2007: Osama against my return: BB LAHORE: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto said Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden didn't want her to return to Pakistan Bhutto said the government would provide her security upon her arrival in Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif was deported to Saudi Arabia because he was convicted. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\01\story_1-10-2007_pg1_5

08-10-2007: UK aided Bhutto-Musharraf deal

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted that his country aided in bringing together Benazir Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf. Asked whether the power sharing deal reached with the help of Britain would help fight terror, Brown said: ''We are obviously concerned about any terrorist activity that comes from within the border of Pakistan and work to bring Bhutto and Musharraf together in Pakistan as far as possible.'' ''But these decisions, the major one you are talking about, it is a matter for the Pakistan people to take at their own elections,'' he added. Earlier in the day, media reports too claimed Britain and the United States played a key role in helping Musharraf to retain office for another five years and the ''safe return'' of Bhutto to Pakistan to share power with the military ruler. British and the US diplomats have met with leaders of a political party long at odds with Bhutto and encouraged it to show restraint when she returns to Karachi on October 18, The Independent reported quoting a western diplomat. At his hour-long press conference held at 10, Downing Street. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070028671&ch=10/8/2007%208:40:00%20PM

18-10-2007: No evidence Baitullah threatened suicide attack: Rahimullah Yusufzai

The threat was first reported in a section of the press and the news item quoted Maulana Saleh Shah, member of the Senate from South Waziristan. An English language newspaper (not The News) in a front page story quoted the Maulana as saying that Baitullah Mehsud would "˜welcome' Benazir Bhutto with a suicide bombing due to her provocative utterances against the Taliban and other militants. The Maulana was quick to issue a denial which was published in some newspapers.

Talking to The News, he even claimed that the reporter in question accepted his mistake and apologized to him after he confronted him and questioned the veracity of the report. "I was quoted out of context. I didn't say all that was published in my name," he argued.
Though it is clear that Baitullah Mehsud hasn't threatened Benazir Bhutto with suicide bombing, one should keep in mind that anyone intending to launch such an attack would not brag about it publicly. Benazir Bhutto has provoked the militants and Jihadis with some of her recent pro-US and anti-al-Qaeda and anti-Taliban statements and one should, therefore, not rule out the possibility of suicide bombings targeting her. But that could happen once she is in power and has the authority to order military operations against the militants. At present, she doesn't possess the authority to cause harm to the militants and it appears that the latter would prefer to wait and see as to how she acts once she is in power.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp?id=10670

19-10-2007: Zia remnants' blamed for Karachi carnage: Benazir vows to confront militants, fears more attacks Benazir Bhutto condemned the suicide attack on her rally and blamed it on what she termed "˜Zia remnants'. Addressing a news conference at her seaside residence, Ms Bhutto said that before returning home, she had written to Pervez Musharraf that more than three officials were planning suicide attacks on her. She refused to identify the officials. She claimed that before her return to Pakistan, she had been informed by a brotherly country that several suicide squads had been sent to Pakistan to kill her. "It was conveyed to me by a brotherly country that one suicide squad was from within Taliban elements, one was from the Al Qaeda, the third was from amongst the Pakistani Taliban, and the fourth was from Karachi... The telephone numbers of some of the suicide squad handlers were also given by the brotherly country to the government of Pakistan," she said.
The PPP chief refrained from holding the government responsible for the attack.
"On Oct 16, before returning home, I wrote a letter to Gen Musharraf in which I informed him that if anything happens to me as a result of these attacks, then I will neither nominate the Afghan Taliban, nor Al Qaeda, not even Pakistani Taliban or the fourth group. I will nominate those people who, I believe, mislead the people. I have spelt out names of such people in the letter," she said. Ms Bhutto said she knew who her enemies were and who were the forces of militancy, who wanted to kill her because they were coward. "I have named three people, and more, in that letter to Gen Musharraf. I have named certain people with a view to the attack that took place yesterday so that if I was assassinated, who should be investigated." She alleged that more attacks were being planned on her life. She said her apprehension was that a strike would be made on either of her houses in Clifton and Larkana. "The modus operandi will be that selected people will be planted in the police department and posted near my house. Perhaps, commandos will be sent in the garb of a rival political party and blamed for the attack." Ms Bhutto said she had shared this piece of information with Gen Musharraf and was confident the government would take pre-emptive measures.
She disclosed that a media representative had told her on return from Dubai that he had received a phone call from a retired military official that there would be an attack on her that day and that the MQM would be doing that. "I said that if such an attack comes, it will not be from the MQM." http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/20/top1.htm

23-10-07: Benazir Bhutto Sups with the Devil, By Eric Margolis

The US-arranged back-room deal between Bhutto and Musharraf also flies in the face of her claims to be restoring democracy to troubled Pakistan. He is dropping criminal charges for corruption against her "“ which the general insists are legitimate and she denies "“ in exchange for her cooperation with his military regime. There is no disguising that this is a tawdry deal worked out with two of Washington's staunchest Pakistani supporters. As reported in my recent columns, the US has filled all senior positions in Pakistan's powerful military and intelligence service, ISI, with pro-American generals approved by the Pentagon and CIA. Even if Musharraf is ousted or blown up, the US believes it can retain firm control over Pakistan and use its armed forces to wage war there and in Afghanistan against nationalist and Islamist forces battling Western influence. The military rules Pakistan. Musharraf and his American patrons run Pakistan's military. So what is left for future prime minister Bhutto? Pakistan's most important national institution, the armed forces, has failed its duty to the nation. Instead of allowing itself to be rented like the sepoys in the mercenary armies of Britain's 19th-century Imperial Indian Raj to wage war on its own people, Pakistan's military should be ensuring its commanders serve the interest of the nation, rather than foreign powers. $1 billion a month rents a lot of cooperation, it is true. But Pakistan's once proud soldiers have sold their honor cheap.

24-10-2007: Karachi: Pakistani police raided the house of one of Benazir Bhutto's close aides to arrest him over a murder in 1998, but the official was not at home, police said yesterday. Zulfiqar Mirza, a close friend of Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied the former prime minister on her return from eight years of self-imposed exile last week, and has been involved in co-ordinating her security. http://www.gulf-news.com/world/Pakistan/10162552.html

08-11-2007: Ms Bhutto's options-Editorial

Like Gen. Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto has also tied herself into political knots. In the name of pragmatism and seeking a smooth transition to democracy she has, by acts of omission and commission, isolated herself and her party from the mainstream opposition and has not been able to get, as yet, what she wanted from Musharraf. If her latest news conference in Islamabad is any indication, she has raised the pressure on the general by threatening to launch street protests. PPP leaders who were, like Musharraf's cronies, hiding their faces after the perverted National Reconciliation Ordinance, have now started breathing again as Benazir Bhutto reaches out to her old opposition colleagues for a joint front against the general's latest draconian actions.
It is unfortunate when a politician of her stature does not seize the moment when the time is ripe. If Ms Bhutto had not broken ranks and dismantled the opposition ARD in London, the face of the country's political spectrum would have been different. She and her party ditched everyone -- which in turn was a boon for Musharraf and his regime because it created disarray in the opposition ranks -- got a few personal concessions under the NRO, made her soft return to Pakistan possible and assumed a central role through backchannel negotiations. However, now she has reached the point where she has to publicly blackmail the regime by threatening to launch a street agitation and a boycott of parliament. On a personal scorecard she may have gained a lot but the national polity has been damaged. The general was able to get away with his preposterous re-election by the same existing assemblies while still in uniform, a position Ms Bhutto had all along said she and her party would never accept. With her support he felt so confident he defied the Supreme Court repeatedly on Nawaz Sharif's exile issue. Had Ms Bhutto taken a firm stand for the rights of her political colleague, the institution of politics would have been much stronger and respected in the eyes of civil society.
Ms Bhutto's reaction to the emergency and virtual martial law, with no PPP leader seen protesting on the streets, has again raised questions about the role and strength of the political parties and their real agendas. She has to ponder the unavoidable question: who is responsible for this state of affairs and why is it that today the political parties are seen as so helpless and impotent -- especially at a time when they should be the ones out on the streets mobilising people against an unabashed military dictator? However, all is not lost yet. Ms Bhutto enjoys widespread support nationwide and in crucial western capitals as well. With a massive rally scheduled for Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi today (for which the Punjab government has, as expected, denied permission), she holds most of the cards in this grim moment of national despair. Instead of propping up a military dictator who seems to have already dug such a big hole for himself that it would be next to impossible for him to get out of it -- at least this time -- it is about time that Ms Bhutto made the right choices. Her latest aggressive posture can still force the dictator's hand to return the country to sanity and stability. But this can come about only if such a stand were sincere and made in all honesty and not as a pretext to gain more concessions for herself and her party. There is no need for her, as is being rumoured, to be in the hunt as head of a national government when her party, provided free and transparent elections are held, can do well at the hustings. It would be good if Ms Bhutto were to realise that her strength, support and weight could change the country's destiny if it was used wisely and in favour of safeguarding the rights of civil society and democracy. Her secret parleys with emissaries of the general should end and she must take a public position, taking all political forces on board, to fight for restoration of the constitution, an independent judiciary, free elections and a swift return to democratic rule. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=79435

02-12-2007: BB favours mly operation in FATA, Frontier Post 02-12-07

PESHAWAR: Former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto said that her party would continue "˜selective' operation against militants in tribal areas if comes into power after coming elections. http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=711

15-12-2007: Panel set up to dispose of Benazir's Swiss cases

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum confirmed to The News setting up of such a committee by the president. The attorney general said the committee had yet to prepare its terms of reference (ToRs) to carry out the task.
The presidency had asked NAB to pursue cases against the Sharif family and submit it before the accountability court, which had asked the NAB to make it clear whether or not they wanted to proceed against the accused.
NAB has not yet withdrawn the arrest warrants of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and others in three corruption cases pending against them since 2000. The cases against the Sharif family were reopened shortly after Nawaz landed in Pakistan in August from exile.
The three cases are: Hudaibiya Paper Mills; Ittefaq Foundry; and illegal assets at Raiwind. Nine persons were nominated in Hudaibiya Paper Mills case ñ Mian Muhammad Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, widow of Mian Muhammad Sharif, Mian Abbas Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Shamim Akhtar, Sabiha Abbas, wife of Mian Abbas Sharif and Mariam Safdar

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11742

16-12-2007: BB says ready to work with Musharraf: WASHINGTON, Benazir Bhutto has said that she remains open to working with President Pervez Musharraf Her remarks, made in an interview to Voice of America radio, reflect a major departure from her earlier stance that she will not work with Mr Musharraf.
In the same interview, Ms Bhutto also indicated that she believed Mr Musharraf was capable of holding fair and free elections. The president, she said, could still surprise people by conducting an honest vote, although she believed that was a remote possibility. "At the moment the situation is not conducive to fair elections within Pakistan. But certainly, President Musharraf has taken some steps that surprised many people, including me.
"And that included his retirement as the chief of the army staff. So if he surprises us all by having a fair election that will be very welcome. But the way things are going today, that would be a very big surprise," Ms Bhutto said. Speaking to VOA by telephone, the PPP chief said she might still find it possible to cooperate with President Musharraf.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/12/16/nat4.htm

Conclusion: She had two targets, to occupy seat of Prime Minister of Pakistan and act as a puppet or a slave of imperialists, and second to seek forgiveness to the looted amounts and crimes of the Zardari supra courts.

Moreover her political enemies are for more than her supporters. It does not mean that anybody should have eliminated her in such a ruthless fashion; the difference of opinion with the beneficiaries of her death on her murder is on principals, her sad elimination is not a question. Simply her husband and his cronies have achieved every advantage of the deal, held between her and Mush, those wrapped Bhutto's legacy, and are still selling her dead body for more advantages.