A blow to democracy.[4] ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan has struggled with democracy. Late last year it appeared to be headed for change, though. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Benazir Bhutto (Urdu: بینظیر بھٹو, IPA: [bɛnɜziɽ botɔ] had returned from exile to challenge President Pervez Musharraf General Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: پرويز مشرف) (born August 11 1943) is President of Pakistan and the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army who came to power in wake of a coup d'etat. , an army general who seized power in 1999. The day Bhutto arrived, an explosion nearly killed her. Two months later, she was assassinated as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. as she waved to a crowd on December 27. Riots have racked the country since then. Bhutto had been the first woman to lead a modern Muslim state. After her death, her 19-year-old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, took her place as head of the Pakistan People's Party People's party: see Populist party. . He told reporters: "I really want to see democracy in Pakistan now because we've lost our best hope, but we haven't lost our only hope." Watch his news conference at www.tinyurl.com/2197xs. |
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