A mature response to murder of Bhutto

Mansoor Ijaz:

...

Musharraf, with whom she tried futilely over the past three months to cobble together a power-sharing arrangement, must immediately call for an independent international investigation into her assassination, led by a blue ribbon panel of FBI and MI5 officials, that determines the extent – or lack – of complicity from Pakistan's police and intelligence services in her death. This is the most critical decision he can make as a gesture of national reconciliation with bereaved Pakistan Peoples Party workers to avoid the appearance of conflict to his ongoing service as president, and to prevent Pakistan's descent into civil war or an internally led Islamist army coup.

Her death will not have been in vain if Musharraf galvanizes the forces of democracy that bubble just under the surface of Pakistan's political fabric to have a truly transparent election of all of Pakistan's political leaders. In order to level the playing field, the Election Commission should delay the election until early February so each party can have time to regroup.

The Pakistan People's Party should select a new candidate to contest the elections – they have a good candidate in human rights activist and lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan – and get him on the campaign trail as soon as the mourning period for Benazir is over. The Election Commission should allow Nawaz Sharif, as bad a choice for Pakistan as he would be, to contest the election so the grass roots of democratic activism in this nation of 165 million people can take hold once again. Rebuilding political institutions was one of Benazir's key platforms as a candidate. The country should honor her death by making that happen.

...


Reuters reports Pakistan police are trying to reconstruct the head of the bomber and are using DNA to match body parts. Ijaz's suggestion would add legitimacy to the investigation. He political suggestion also has merit. The right candidate can use the event to propel his party to power if he seizes the moment.

Ijaz's article also includes some personal reflections about Bhutto that some may find interesting. What I find interesting is how many people she knew in the commentary business.

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