I was just wrapping up some updates when the e-mail rang Thursday morning.
"Benazir Bhutto has died in an attack at a rally."
That was it, the first update from CNN.
Then my boss walked into the office.
"Let me finish this up, and then we need to talk Pakistan."
My boss, having just arrived at work, hadn't yet heard the news, so he caught up while he was waiting for me.
For those who don't keep up with international affairs the way I do, here's the plain English version.
Bhutto was Pakistan's first female prime minister. Her father was hanged in a coup, and she was exiled.
Pervez Musharraf, who is currently leading Pakistan with the blessing of the Bush administration, scheduled elections for January of 2008, so he could pretend to be running a democracy.
Bhutto returned to Pakistan with the support of millions to challenge Musharraf. She told CNN she was aware that there would probably be attempts on her life. She told her friends and advisors she wasn't happy with the security the state was providing her.
People rallied. Some of the rallies turned violent.
Musharraf declared a state of emergency and put her under house arrest.
The international community cried out – what sort of person running a democracy puts his primary competitor under house arrest and suspends the country's constitution?
Musharraf lifted the house arrest and the emergency declaration.
At a rally Thursday, Bhutto waved from the sunroof of a car. Supporters cheered. A suicide bomber blew himself up. Someone shot Bhutto in the neck.
This is something out of a novel. Or a movie. Turns out this stuff still happens in real life.
Wow.
Labels: benazir bhutto, elections, news, pakistan, politics
