Friday, 18 January 2008
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Assassination of Bhutto: the murder of the wishes, aspirations and demands of the bottom rung of soc
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Pakistan on the 27th of December.. Her death has shocked and angered many in Pakistan. Protests, riots and looting have broken out all over the country. The smell and sight of smoke is all over the city. There is great uncertainty right now as to what is next for this nation. Elections were due on the 8th of January, and were rescheduled for 18 February, but nothing is certain, and martial law is a strong possibility. The majority of Pakistanis are fed up with the ruling government, but now have little hope for a more democratic transition in January. There are many forces vying for power right now in Pakistan and seemingly very little unity among the various parties and groups of people. The poor lower classes are feeling especially powerless and hopeless at this time.
Below are pieces from a report from Sheraz Khurram Khan a freelance journalist based in Pakistan:- for the full story click on the link belowhttp://www.acctv.com.au/articledetail.asp?id=5658
Ms. Bhutto, an international icon and the democratic face of Pakistan was very much popular with the people of Pakistan in general and Pakistani minorities in particular, who trusted that Benazir Bhutto would address their problems upon coming into power. For the Christians of Pakistan she was the leader they trusted. Having unflinching faith in her they knew she would never betray them. Instead they hoped they would be treated on the basis of equality during her stint of power. They were filled with deep optimism that their long-standing demand of getting representation in Senate, the upper house of Pakistan parliament would be fulfilled during her term as a premier. Senate has been a no-go area for Pakistani minorities since creation of Pakistan.
Christian rights groups and human rights organizations have long been demanding minorities' representation in the upper house of parliament. They believed without any iota of doubt that all draconian laws perceived as discriminatory by them would be either abolished or amended when her party comes into power. They were also expecting legislation during her tenure as a premier that would increase the number of minorities' representatives' seats in the National Assembly (Lower house of Parliament) as well as in the four provincial assemblies of Pakistan. Ms. Bhutto's murder came as a horrible jolt to Pakistani minorities. It is tantamount to the murder of the wishes, the aspirations and the demands of Pakistani Christians, most of whom are at the bottom rung of society.
Some of the Pakistani Christians, who I talked to said that the assassination of Ms. Bhutto had rendered them orphans. Others expressed their apprehensions of attacks on Churches. Yet others said they still were in a state of shock. Most of Pakistani Christians supported Benazir in the belief that only she could counter the Islamists' influence by advocating moderation, tolerance, enlightenment, peace and harmony. Her assassins have cut her life short but she will be long remembered due to her services for the cause of democracy in Pakistan
PRAY: Ask the God of peace to be at work in the nation of Pakistan as there is much uncertainty and turmoil. Ask for protection for minority groups, including Christians. Pray that those who step into leadership will make wise and godly choices in the upcoming year..
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