“How can a Muslim commit such a gruesome act — especially against a woman,” leading lady of Pakistan’s film industry Reema Khan said.

“A foreign hand must be responsible for Benazir’s death as it wanted to destabilise this already troubled country. If a twice-elected prime minister is not safe, then who is?” she told the News.

Reema, who hosts Hum Sab Umeed Sai Hain on Geo TV, said Benazir was a great leader and the vacuum created by her death would never be filled.

Film director Syed Noor expressed dismay at the former premier’s shocking death. “The bullet that pierced Benazir’s neck has punctured democracy in this country. I am so scared of the times after Benazir’s assassination. This is the blackest chapter of our country’s history,” he said.

Several prominent businessmen of the country have described Benazir’s assassination as a dark day in history.
Jamil Mehboob Magoon, a former vice president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Riots have erupted all over the country and no one knows when will it all end.”

“They will now put the country and the economy on a back track.”

Yawar Irfan Khan said: “It is the height of cruelty. Every Pakistani regardless of political affiliation is in deep sorrow and grief.”

Student leaders have criticised the government for failing to protect her and termed the incident a conspiracy to divide the country.

Muslim Students Federation president Rana Muhammad Arshad alleged that the government was responsible for Bhutto’s assassination.

Mumtaz Malik, a spokesman of the Imamia Students Organisation, said: “We strongly condemn her brutal killing and express deep sorrow and grief over her demise. Her killing will definitely prove a great loss to the country in the coming days.”

The Students Action Committee also extended its condolence over the tragic demise of Bhutto in a press statement.

Meanwhile, religio-political leaders have called for observing country-wide strike on Friday.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM) leader Maulana Asadullah Bhutto said the assassination was a deplorable incident and was a pointer towards the worsening law and order situation in the country.

Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali has suspended all party activities in the entire country for three days and called for observing three-day mourning.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leaders Maulana Umer Sadiq and Qari Muhammad Usman have termed the killing of Bhutto a “national loss”.

Several leading lawyers and top artists have also condemned Bhutto’s killing.

Meanwhile, chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Ghinva Bhutto, who is also Benazir’s sister-in-law, has termed her assassination as “very tragic”.

She said it was deplorable that the Bhutto family was being wiped out in a heinous manner.

Sharif not to attend Bhutto’s funeral
Islamabad, PTI:  Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on Friday dropped his plans to attend the funeral of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto following a request from her husband Asif Ali Zardari.

Sharif, who had described the killing as the most tragic event in the history of Pakistan, had earlier planned to travel to Larkana in Sindh province to join the funeral at Bhutto’s ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Buksh.
But when Sharif spoke to Bhutto’s husband this morning over phone, Zardari advised the PML-N chief not to travel to Larkana on Friday in view of  security concerns, Pakistan People’s Party sources said.

Zardari said Sharif’s presence could exacerbate the tense situation in Larkana, the sources said. PPP workers have staged violent protests in Larkana, vandalising and burning government offices, cars and trains.

Reports said Sharif would travel to Larkana later to express his condolences to Bhutto’s family. Sharif has also decided to boycott the January 8 general election in the wake of Bhutto’s assassination.