|
A
supporter of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is
overcome with grief after a suicide bomber set off his
charge in an assassination attack that killed Bhutto and
many of her supporters. The opposition leader’s death
sparked days of nationwide rioting, left the country in a
state of shock and cast serious doubts on the possibility of
democracy in Pakistan.
|
A
supporter of slain former Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto is overcome with grief after a suicide bomber
set off his charge in an assassination attack that
killed Bhutto and many of her supporters. The
opposition leader’s death sparked days of nationwide
rioting, left the country in a state of shock and
cast serious doubts on the possibility of democracy
in Pakistan.
Former
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto sits on stage at a
campaign rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan December 27,
2007, just minutes before she was assassinated. The
opposition leader had returned to Pakistan after
eight years in exile and had survived a suicide bomb
blast during her arrival procession in Karachi only
months before. Following almost 6 weeks of emergency
rule when large gatherings were banned, her campaign
rally in Rawalpindi was her largest event yet,
drawing thousands of supporters. |
 |
|
Departing the event, she came out into the open road
waving from the sun roof of her armored vehicle, her
adoring supporters pushing to get close and slowing
the vehicle’s movement. Gunshots sounded, and as she
dropped down through the roof into the car, a
suicide bomber set off his charge. Within seconds,
her damaged vehicle sped away, leaving a scene of
chaos and carnage, as the dead and injured waited to
be taken away and her supporters screamed in
anguish. The assassination left the country in a
state of shock and cast serious doubts on the
prospects of democracy in Pakistan.
Former
Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto addresses
thousands of supporters at a campaign rally minutes
before she was assassinated December 27, 2007 in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan. |
 |
|
Former
Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto addresses
thousands of supporters at a campaign rally minutes
before she was assassinated December 27, 2007 in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Former
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto waves from the sun
roof of her armored car just seconds before being
being assassinated in a gun and suicide bomb attack
December 27, 2007. She was departing a campaign
rally in the army garrison city next to Islamabad.
A
suicide bomber sets off his charge during an
assassination attack on former Pakistani Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto December 27, 2007 in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan. |
 |
|
A
supporter of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto is overcome with emotion at the scene of a
suicide bomb blast against Bhutto December 27, 2007
following a campaign rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
A
survivor smoothes his hair while awaiting medical
attention soon after a suicide bomb blast attack on
former Prime Minister Benezir Bhutto December 27,
2007 following a campaign rally in Rawalpindi,
Pakistan
A
poster of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
lies next to the bodies of her supporters, covered
by flags of her Pakistan People’s Party, following a
suicide bomb and gun attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan,
December 27, 2007.
|
 |
|
|
|
