Benazir Bhutto was buried yesterday in her home village of Naushero Feroze but the situation here in Karachi continues to remain tense. There is something quite eerie and chilling when a city of 16 million which stays alive late into the night comes to a standstill.

The fallout from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has been terrible. On Thursday, the news of her death spread like wildfire and many people were stranded at work since the roads were so badly jammed with traffic. Many had to abandon their cars on the side of the road and walk to their destinations and other had to abandon them because they ran out of petrol since pumps had been ordered shut for fear of arson as soon as news of the death was announced. The unfortunate result of this was that many cars that were parked on the side of the roads were burned by the street mobs that took to the roads soon after.

In terms of political fallout, the situation seems extremely uncertain. In the immediate aftermath of the death of Benazir, the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party issued a statement saying that they were in a state of shock and could not comment on whether they would be contesting the upcoming elections. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who incidentally was also shot at during a rally, that same day issued a statement saying that his party would be boycotting elections. Not only is it unclear whether elections will be held on January 8, 2008, but it still cannot be said whether the major political parties will be contesting them. What is clear is that all election campaigning in the country has come to a complete halt in light of the events following Bhutto’s death.

It is strange to be in Karachi at the death of Benazir Bhutto. I am too young remember the aftermath of when her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was hung by General Zia ul Haque in 1979, but I have been in Karachi during periods of extreme violence. The atmosphere in the city is markedly different from these past violent episodes since the shut down is complete and the fear palpable. Looking down at the city from our roof terrace yesterday evening, one could see plumes of smoke rising from fires. According to news reports, fire crews (which can supposedly be reached by calling 16) can not be reached and are simply not responding to fires. At least three to four banks have been reported looted and over 100 cars burned in the city. All transport, including trains and flights out of the city, had been cancelled since the flight crews were unable to reach the airport. Because the petrol pumps continue to remain shut, people are unable to buy fuel and black marketeers are supposedly selling Iranian petrol for 100 rupees a liter (it usually sells for 50 rupees a liter)

Tomorrow, Benazir’s soyem (the traditional religious services held three days after the burial) will be held all over the country, and it is expected that more violence will take place across the city then. Some reports from the Pakistan People’s Party asserted that the Party will not participate in any political activities for the next forty days which led people to conclude that they too intend to boycott the upcoming polls. However, no definitive reports have emerged in this regard.

first, my condolences for the people of pakistan. second, what is the legacy for the rights of women in pakistan left by bhutto? i do not ask with the intention of criticizing, but in the hope that there is one. but i do not know, and so ask.

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