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Tense Pakistan set to bury Bhutto Tense Pakistan set to bury Bhutto
(about 2 hours later)
The body of the assassinated former Pakistani PM, Benazir Bhutto, has been flown to her home village in Sindh for burial amid fears of further violence. The body of the assassinated former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has been flown to her home village in Sindh for burial, amid ongoing violence.
President Pervez Musharraf appealed for calm after she was killed at a rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday, but deadly riots later erupted in several cities. President Pervez Musharraf appealed for calm after she was killed at an election rally on Thursday.
At least 11 deaths were reported as her angry supporters took to the streets. But angry Bhutto supporters took to the streets, notably in Punjab and Sindh. At least 11 deaths were reported.
The killing was condemned worldwide, with the UN Security Council describing it as a reprehensible act of terrorism.The killing was condemned worldwide, with the UN Security Council describing it as a reprehensible act of terrorism.
US officials called for the parliamentary election scheduled for 8 January to go ahead as planned, but correspondents say the assassination has raised a huge question mark over the poll.US officials called for the parliamentary election scheduled for 8 January to go ahead as planned, but correspondents say the assassination has raised a huge question mark over the poll.
International reactionInternational reaction
Ms Bhutto's political rival and fellow former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, reacted to news of her death by announcing that his party, the Muslim League, would boycott the vote.Ms Bhutto's political rival and fellow former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, reacted to news of her death by announcing that his party, the Muslim League, would boycott the vote.
"I demand that Musharraf quit power, without delay of a single day, to save Pakistan," he told reporters on Thursday."I demand that Musharraf quit power, without delay of a single day, to save Pakistan," he told reporters on Thursday.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. Analysts believe Islamist militants to be the most likely group behind it.There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. Analysts believe Islamist militants to be the most likely group behind it.
Final speechFinal speech
Ms Bhutto, 54, was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday when a gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb. At least 20 other people were killed by the blast. Ms Bhutto, 54, was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday, standing in the open sunroof of a car, when a gunman shot her in the neck and chest.
Her body was later taken from a hospital in the northern city, where she was pronounced dead after the attack, to a military airport. Seconds later, the attacker blew himself up, killing at least 20 people.
Her simple wooden coffin was accompanied on board a military aircraft by her husband Asif Zardari and their three children. Ms Bhutto was taken to hospital in the northern city, where she was declared dead.
In pictures: Protest furyIn pictures: Last journeyWhat next for Pakistan? The coffin was transferred to a helicopter and taken to her ancestral family home in Larkana in the southern province of Sindh. In pictures: Protest furyIn pictures: Last journeyWhat next for Pakistan?
She is expected to be buried at about 1300 (0800 GMT) next to her father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - who was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977 and executed two years later. Supporters of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) later carried her simple wooden coffin to a waiting ambulance, which took it to Rawalpindi's military airport.
It was accompanied on board a military aircraft by her husband Asif Zardari and their three children, who had earlier flown to the capital, Islamabad, from Dubai.
After arriving at Sukkur airport, the coffin was transferred to a helicopter and taken to her ancestral family home in Ghari Khuda Baksh, near Larkana, in the southern province of Sindh.
She is expected to be buried after Friday prayers at about 1300 (0800 GMT) next to her father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - who was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977 and executed two years later.
After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, she became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country.After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, she became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country.
Ms Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996. She was sacked on both occasions on corruption charges. Ms Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996. She was sacked on both occasions after being charged with corruption.
Now we know why Ghandi cried Margaret Mollick, Fort Worth Texas USA Have your sayNow we know why Ghandi cried Margaret Mollick, Fort Worth Texas USA Have your say
She returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October following a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf, who granted an amnesty.She returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October following a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf, who granted an amnesty.
Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in the southern city of Karachi that killed more than 130 people.Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in the southern city of Karachi that killed more than 130 people.
At Thursday's fateful rally organised by Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Rawalpindi, she spoke about the risks she ran, saying: At Thursday's fateful rally organised by the PPP in Rawalpindi, she spoke about the risks she ran, saying:
"I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried." "I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis."
'Root them out''Root them out'
The assassination was condemned worldwide. The UN Security Council described it as a "reprehensible act of terrorism" and urged "all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country". The UN Security Council described it as a "reprehensible act of terrorism" and urged "all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country".
BENAZIR BHUTTO Father led Pakistan before being executed in 1979Spent five years in prisonServed as PM from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996Sacked twice by president on corruption chargesFormed alliance with rival ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2006Ended self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan in OctoberEducated at Harvard and Oxford Obituary: Benazir BhuttoLife in pictures BENAZIR BHUTTO Father led Pakistan before being executed in 1979Spent five years in prisonServed as PM from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996Sacked twice by president on corruption chargesFormed alliance with rival ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2006Ended self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan in OctoberEducated at Harvard and Oxford Obituary: Benazir BhuttoLife in pictures class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words
US President George W Bush said the perpetrators had been murderous extremists trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.US President George W Bush said the perpetrators had been murderous extremists trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.
President Musharraf meanwhile went on TV to announce three days of national mourning and to urge citizens to resist terrorism.President Musharraf meanwhile went on TV to announce three days of national mourning and to urge citizens to resist terrorism.
"I seek unity and support from the nation," he said."I seek unity and support from the nation," he said.
The president made no mention of the election in his address.The president made no mention of the election in his address.
As part of the public mourning, schools, commercial centres and banks are being closed for three days.As part of the public mourning, schools, commercial centres and banks are being closed for three days.
News of the assassination of the leader of the PPP, Pakistan's most popular party, brought supporters on to the streets. News of the assassination of the leader of the PPP, Pakistan's largest political party, brought angry supporters onto the streets.
The violent incidents reported across the country in Thursday included: Their protests later turned into violent riots, particularly in the country's largest city, Karachi, where Ms Bhutto grew up and went to school.
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  • In Karachi, rioters blocked roads, attacked police and set fire to public transport vehicles
  • In Lahore, demonstrators set two police vans on fire and beat officers who were inside a third
  • In the central city of Sargodha, activists set on fire a podium and that had been set up ahead of a rally by the rival PML-Q party
  • In Sukkur, mobs set buildings and vehicles on fire
  • Unrest was also reported in Peshawar, Tando Allahyar, Quetta, Multan and Shikarpur.
 Protesters set dozens of vehicles on fire in the streets of Karachi
Businesses, government offices and police stations, along with dozens of vehicles, were attacked and set alight. Rioters also blocked several roads and set fire to tyres.
Gunmen later opened fire indiscriminately in various parts of the city. Karachi's police chief said four people were killed in the overnight violence.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says dark smoke continues to billow from the city on Friday morning. In the latest incident, a policeman was shot dead by gunmen in an eastern district.
Other violent incidents reported across the country on Thursday included:
  • Four people were killed in rural Sindh province, including in Sukkur, where mobs set buildings and vehicles on fire. Shikarpur and Tando Allahyar were also affected
  • In Lahore, demonstrators set two police vans on fire and beat officers who were inside a third vehicle. Two people were killed in the violence
  • In the central city of Sargodha, activists set on fire a podium and that had been set up ahead of a rally by the rival PML-Q party
  • Troops were called out to bring rioting under control in the northern city of Peshawar, while unrest was also reported in Quetta and Multan