Murdered Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto spoke of her fears about suicide bombers in her homeland on her last visit to Britain.
On a visit to Medway to support Conservative parliamentary candidate Rehman Chishti, Ms Bhutto told our sister newspaper Kent On Sunday how violent fanatics flourished under the military dictatorship in force in her homeland.
The visit in late August came just days before her return to Pakistan from exile.
On Thursday she was killed by a suicide bomber in the Punjabi city of Rawalpindi – the headquarters of Pakistan’s armed forces and a massive garrison city.
Ms Bhutto outlined her vision for her homeland in the days before she returned from exile imposed by the military regime currently headed by General Pervez Musharaff.
And she blamed the current administration for the rise in suicide bombing attacks – such as the one which killed her.
Ms Bhutto said: “I believe the restoration of democracy in Pakistan can be a very powerful way to undermine the forces of extremism.”
She then explained she strongly backed a return to the ballot paper across the troubled nation.
“I think militancy has thrived in Pakistan under military dictatorships,” she explained.
“It was during the military dictatorships of the 1980s that the Mujahideen were established and they comprised some of the most fanatical and extreme elements of the Afghan resistance.
"It is during another military dictatorship that we have seen the rise of suicide bombers within Pakistan.
“I fear a military regime needs an external threat in order to justify itself being in power.
“It doesn’t have the same motivation to go after militant extremist elements as a representative Government.
“A representative Government needs to look after people as it is answerable to the people in a general election.
“It needs to be able to provide security to citizens so they don’t get killed by suicide bombers.”
The talk with Ms Bhutto took place among strict security at the Rochester Corn Exchange and can be viewed on yourkenttv.co.uk
During it Ms Bhutto also outlined her vision for her home country.
She explained: “First of all the rule of law must be restored to the tribal areas of Pakistan which are perceived by many as safe havens for terrorists and pro-Taliban elements.
“Second the campaign against the drug trade which is funding and fuelling terrorism must be intensified.
“Thirdly there must be a reform of the Madrassas so they using the name Madrassa - which means school – as a decoy for a training camp for militants spreading hate against other religions.”
But much of her hope lay with the population of the country.
“(I want) to empower the people of Pakistan,” she said. “When people become stakeholding members of their own community they come forward to defend that community.
“And so I believe the restoration of democracy in Pakistan can be a very powerful way to undermine the forces of extremism.”
As news of the attack – which killed around another 20 people – broke Medway city councillor and Gillingham parliamentary candidate Rehman Chishti spoke of his shock at the death of a woman he called his “dear friend, mentor and mother.”
Mr Chishti had been a political advisor to Ms Bhutto and continued to work with her right up to her death alongside his council and candidate roles.
He said: “I have lost a dear friend who was not just a political friend – she was more like a mother.
“She was my mentor too. When I went to work for her in 1999 she was my mentor.
“She was the greatest politician I ever could have worked with - sincere, humble and down to earth.
“The world has suffered a great loss.
“My heart goes out to her three children and husband. I can’t believe she has gone.”
• Watch our interview with Benazir Bhutto at www.yourkenttv.co.uk
POSTED: 27/12/2007 15:52:20
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