The shocking assassination of Benazir Bhutto is bad news for Pakistan, not just for the cause of restoration of democracy in that country.  Bhutto had many enemies seeking to eliminate her. She had taken a tough stand against the al-Qaeda and the Taliban. This would have put her in their crosshairs. There were also fears in the ruling establishment that in the event of a strong showing in the elections she would act to clip the wings of the military. It has been evident since March this year that the military dispensation of President Pervez Musharraf was no longer able to hold together a nation torn apart by extremism and popular unrest. His tentative moves to buy peace with Bhutto, who lived abroad in self-imposed exile for almost eight years, was hardly a sign of any love for democracy. The prevalent situation was such that he needed the presence of political leaders with mass following to arrest the country’s drift towards chaos.

Once Bhutto was back from exile in mid-October as part of a broad deal with him to lead her Pakistan People’s Party in the national assembly elections scheduled for January 8, things did not, however, go according to the script Musharraf may have had in mind. She was in the forefront to force him to give up the command of the Army. She opposed the imposition of emergency rule. Bhutto deeply suspected the hands of Musharraf’s security and intelligence agencies’ in the bomb blasts that killed 160 of her supporters in Karachi. She believed that the suicide attack was actually targeted at her. Her assassination raises serious questions about the security she was provided. The Musharraf government cannot escape responsibility for its failure.

 Bhutto is no longer with her party and countrymen. The PPP will miss her charismatic leadership. Beyond the PPP, Pakistan’s movement for restoration of democracy will feel most acutely the impact of her death. The assassination could lead to serious law and order problems. The situation may not really be conducive for going ahead with the scheduled elections. It may also be ideal for extremist and terrorist elements who are roaming on the streets of Pakistan. Having been patronised by the Pakistani establishment for so long, it is obviously the most difficult challenge for the men-in-uniform. With Bhutto eliminated from the scene and Musharraf expected to get further alienated from people, the burden of bringing stability to Pakistan falls on another former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Much as Musharraf might like this not to happen, events that might unfold could overtake the discredited military ruler. Pakistan is again at the crossroads.