Assassination of Benazir Bhutto Displays Disparity in Obitua

Stephanie wrote:The Brits do almost everything better. Well, almost, the food is dreadful.

Bhutto was a very courageous woman. I fear what comes next, particularly from our government.

Aaron wrote:

Stephanie wrote:The Brits do almost everything better. Well, almost, the food is dreadful.

Bhutto was a very courageous woman. I fear what comes next, particularly from our government.

I've always been curious how a woman got to the position that she did in an Islamist society. As for what's next, there's a very interesting article in Time.

ohio county wrote:Whether she was shot to death or had an accident with the sun roof, can we agree that charges Musharaf was giving her inadequate security were bogus? How are you going to protect somebody who stands up in a sunroof to wave at all the fruitcakes?

ohio county wrote:Whether she was shot to death or had an accident with the sun roof, can we agree that charges Musharaf was giving her inadequate security were bogus? How are you going to protect somebody who stands up in a sunroof to wave at all the fruitcakes?

shermangeneral wrote:Well Steph I could be wrong but as I understand she did not pass it on to her son.

She passed it on to her husband.

He in turn said hail no I dont want it you take it and passed it on to the son.

I still have not heard why the husband did that.

Maybe he just did not feel a "calling" I dont know.

Zardari also said Sunday he will serve as co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party while their 19-year-old son, Bilawal, and newly named heir to the party leadership, finishes his studies.

"He will, of course, be kept aware of all that is happening with the party," Zardari told CNN sister network CNN-IBN. "I will be looking after the interests of the party, as a guide, as a helper, and as a friend to the party, and as a part-time leader to the party."

Once the political science student at Oxford University has been properly groomed, "then I can go and play golf," Zardari said, without specifying how long he thought the process would take.

Zardari acknowledged that his wife stipulated in her will that he was to step into her role in the event of her death. But Zardari said his decision to pass that role to their son is correct.

"I, in my political wisdom, think we need a larger symbol than myself to keep the party united with her gone," he said. "Because she could have probably not even herself imagined the reaction that her death would do to Pakistan."

He said Bhutto's assassination on Thursday has thrust Pakistan onto the verge of disintegration.

But Zardari said the parliamentary elections slated to be held January 8, less than two weeks after his wife's death, should not be postponed.

"Our demand is elections on time -- free, fair as promised," he said.

He called on opposition leader Nawaz Sharif -- who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-N party -- to also take part in the vote. Sharif has previously said he would boycott the election.

But sources within the Pakistan Muslim League-N party say they will stand with the PPP and take part in the election. Speaking on Pakistan's GEO-TV, Sharif said an official announcement on the party's decision would take place Monday.

President Pervez Musharraf's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the election commission and the interim Cabinet will hold separate meetings in the coming days to discuss the possibility of a delayed vote.

Zardari said he does not trust the government led by Musharraf to ensure the elections are indeed free and fair, but he does believe the people of Pakistan will be able to ensure that happens.

Whether his other two children will decide to enter politics "is entirely up to them," he said.

"You know children today. You cannot force them or ask them to do anything. They do what they choose to do. Bilawal has chosen this. And so will the other two -- if they choose to come and help their brother and help their father, they're welcome to. If they choose not, then I will not impose anything upon anybody."

He said Bhutto had trained Bilawal: "He realizes the enormity of the situation. So therefore, he's accepted the responsibility." Watch Bhutto's son and husband talk about the party's future »

The teenager, speaking in English at a news conference, said, "I am thankful for the CEC [Central Election Commission] for imposing their trust in me as chairman of the Pakistan People's Party."

"Like all chairmen of the PPP, I will stand as the symbol of the federation," said Bilawal Bhutto. "The party's long and historic struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigor, and I stand committed to the stability of the federation.

"My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."