It has been more than 9 hours since the twice elected form prime minister of Pakistan, and, one of the three biggest political figures in Pakistan was brutally murdered.
I was highly criticial of Benazir Bhutto and her father, and, their policies, but, after what happened today, I have forgotten all about her negativities and only the positives are ringing in my mind. Every passing second is a reminder to all that she offered to the nation, all that she contributed and all that she could contribute. Today I am reminded of the courageous woman who rose to the top in a male dominated society. Today I am reminded of the first woman leader of a Muslim country. Today I am reminded of the reformer who went against the grain. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who went against the odds. Today I am reminded of the brave young woman who saw her father put to the gallows but never gave up. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who saw her brothers assassinated but did not give up. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who lost her entire family in this dirty political game but did not give up. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who fought for democracy and against tyrannical rule. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who left her family and her life of comfort and came to fight for our country. Today I am reminded of the brave woman who did not give in to the fear of death. And tomorrow I will remember the brave woman who played with her life for our country, for you and me, for our children, for our future, and paid the ultimate price, and, paid with her life. Bhutto tujhe salam.
A towering figure for 3 decades in this nations history has been stolen from us. Today was a black day for our beloved country. It was a black day for the nation. It was a black day for the Muslim world. It was a black day for humanity. Those who did this, have done no good to democracy, have done no good to Pakistan, have done no good to Islam, have done no good to the Muslim world, and, they have done no good to humanity.
My brothers and sisters. Let us learn from todays tragic event. My brothers and sisters, let us put aside our differences today, and, unite under the flag of Pakistan, and, under the banner of humanity. Let us not be Sinhis or Balochis today, Punjabis or Pathans, brown or white, black or yellow. Let us not be Muslims or Christians, Hindus or Parsis, Sunnis or Shiites. Let us not be Muslim Leaguis or Jamaatis, pro-Bhutto or anti-Bhutto, pro-Musharraf or anti-Musharraf. Let us not be fauji or civilian, lawyers or politicians, businessmen or farmers. Let us not be secularists or Islamists. Let us not be left wing or right wing. Let us forget all that today, and, let us save our country today, let us unite today, let us form an iron wall. For united we stand, and, divided we fall.
