Taliban hand behind Benazir's assassination?

New Delhi: As Benazir Bhutto left Liaqat Park in Rawalpindi on Thursday evening after addressing a rally her armoured car was fired upon and then there was a bomb blast.

Though Benazir sustained bullet injuries in her neck and chest, in the panic that followed, it wasn’t clear if she had been hurt. Many crucial minutes were lost as dozens of her supporters were also wounded in the blast and more than 20 people had been killed.

She was rushed to Rawalpindi’s General hospital where at 1846 hrs IST an emotional party spokesperson confirmed everyone’s worst fears.

“I have spoken to the doctors that the Mohtarma (Benazir) is no more,” announced Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson, Zaheer-ud-din Babar Awan.

The cry of anguish spread across the country as word spread that the 54-year-old former prime minister had been assassinated.

Benazir received bullet injuries on her neck and chest after she was shot at by an attacker who later blew himself up.

Angry PPP supporters burnt cars with many blaming President Pervez Musharraf for not providing her with adequate security.

“This is the gloomiest day in the history of this country. It is something unthinkable,” said former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

In India, the news was received with shock.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued a statement that read, “I was deeply shocked and horrified of the heinous assassination of Mrs Benazir Bhutto. Mrs Bhutto was no ordinary political leader but one who left a deep imprint on her time and age. Her contributions to previous moments of India and Pakistan relations and her intent to break India-Pakistan relations out of the sterile patterns of the past were exemplary. In her death the subcontinent ahs lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country.”

Media advisor to the PM Sanjaya Baru read out the statement in Goa.

The attack on Benazir however, came without a warning, say police who think Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, who had issued threats against Benazir for her ant-jehadi stand, is behind her assassination.

They got close to her on October 18 when her homecoming cavalcade in Karachi was attacked by another suicide bomber.

The suicide bomber detonated himself less than a 100 metre from Benazir’s armoured vehicle, killing 140 supporters who had pressed around to protect her.

Tragically, at Liaqat Park where Benzir addressed her last rally, the attackers got much closer to the former prime minister.

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