Christian leaders expressed sadness at the news of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and worry about its effect on democracy and stability in the politically tumultuous country.
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(Photo: AP Images / Mahesh Kumar A)People light candles to offer tribute to assassinated Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Dec. 28,2007.
“The murder of [the] former Prime Minister is one of the most tragic events in the history of Pakistan,” said the Rev. Johan Candelin, executive director of World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Religious Liberty Commission.
“After working together with Mrs. Bhutto for democracy for several years I can say that her importance for democracy and human rights in Pakistan can never be underestimated.”
Pro-democracy opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, 54, was fatally shot Thursday minutes after concluding an election speech to thousands of supporters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. As she stood waving to supporters from the sunroof of her white Land Rover, she was shot in the neck and then again in the chest by a suicide bomber who then detonated himself killing at least 28 people at the rally, according to CNN.
Her death sparked violence in cities across Pakistan including the burning of banks, shops, and gas stations, according to Pakistani media.
Gospel for Asia, which has more than 16,500 missionaries working in India and the region, is worried about the effects of Bhutto’s death on the region.
“Our GFA leaders in India told me that this event is bringing a huge crisis to the Indian Subcontinent,” GFA president and founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan reported. “Local newspapers indicate that al-Qaeda terrorism may now become a factor in South Asia. Regardless of its origin, the stability of the entire region is being shaken.
“Pakistan is one of the largest Muslim countries and has nuclear weapons,” he added, “ So this event has repercussions throughout the world.”
Leaders of countries around the world have strongly condemned her murder including U.S. President George W. Bush, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, according to The Associated Press.
The U.N. Security Council also voted unanimously to condemn the killing.
Bhutto, the first woman prime minister in a Muslim nation, is said to have had a Catholic nun named Anna as a home teacher in Pakistan and as a result had great respect for the Christian faith and sought to protect all religious minorities, according to WEA’s Candelin.
“She told me several times that she wanted to work for Pakistan where a Jew could go to the synagogue, a Christian to the church and a Muslim to the mosque – all without any fear,” Candelin said. “She was fully aware of the risk she took when she went back to Pakistan, but said that democracy is worth risking one’s life for.”
In October, after eight years in exile, the former two-time prime minister of Pakistan narrowly escaped a suicide attack that killed more than 140 people duing her homecoming parade.
Bhutto’s murder on Thursday occurred only a week ahead of Pakistan’s general election on Jan. 8.
“In the history of Pakistan she will have a very important place beside her late father who also was killed for his work for democracy,” Candelin said.
Her body was buried in the family’s ancestral graveyard in Gari-Khuda Baksh in Sindh province on Friday.
“It is my prayer that through this terrible event, the people of Pakistan and India will realize the need for a greater reality,” GFA’s Yohannan said. “I ask all Christians to join with me in praying for the people of Pakistan, and that God will use this crisis to open the eyes of those who do not know Him.
“We pray for the peace of the entire region,” he added.
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I don't think that war or violence is escalating. With our current technology offering instant global communication, I think we're just hearing about it faster and on a much larger scale than in the past. Also, you've got a much larger population now, so naturally the numbers will be bigger.
chris
How about the wars to exterminate the indigenous peoples of the americas by the christian europeans? was that about "liberation of atheism"?
chris " atheism is an ugly thing, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War... to name but a few that have been fought in the name of atheist philosophies and worldviews. Last century was a bloody century thanks to the liberation of atheism."
The century before that was bloody , as was the one before that. I dont think they were due to "liberation of atheism"
I guess you didnt learn about the christian religious wars of Europe? Start with a history lesson on the "30 years war".
Yeah rubin, atheism is an ugly thing, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War... to name but a few that have been fought in the name of atheist philosophies and worldviews. Last century was a bloody century thanks to the liberation of atheism.
I agree with annie. The world has always has violence, but it has been escalating for years.
A tragic loss for Pakistan! A tragic loss for Islamic women! A tragic loss for the world! Bhutto was a woman of great courage and inner strength! A freedom fighter and lover of life! Her murder tells the world terrorism is an insane spirit in a man/woman which lacks the wisdom to embrace peace! To kill a peacemaker is to embrace hate! This is the problem!
"The U.N. Security Council also voted unanimously to condemn the killing."
Wow, now the terrorists must be really scared.
This is sad. Mrs. Bhutto spoke at my university several years ago and I was impressed with how articulate and open she was about current events. (This was just after 9-11.) I hope the Pakistan people try to follow her example of being peaceful and understanding towards each other.
annie your post "I think this is a very clear indication of the very violent times we live in"
The world is really not any more violent than its was say during WW1, WW2, Korean war, Vietnam War, to name but a few wars and conflicts.
I think this is a very clear indication of the very violent times we live in, and I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to be with the peoples in the Pakistan region, as the violence escalates, may they see how much they need JESUS; HE is the only HOPE for our world! God bless Benazir's family and friends! In Jesus Name, Amen
The death is a huge blow to pakistan :(
She was also a great hope to the Christians in Pakistan. The rise of Islamic extremists in the country, is a serious issue. Lets pray for peace and stability in the country!!