Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun cum suicide bomb attack at an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi. At least 16 others were also killed in yesterday's attack with one report claiming that at least 20 bodies were seen after the explosion. The attack has triggered violent protests across the country.

Police said that a suicide bomber fired at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally before blowing himself up. "The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said Mohammad Shahid, a police officer. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf reportedly chaired an emergency cabinet meeting after the blast. He later appealed to the nation to remain calm "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated.”

We are totally grieved and shocked at this heinous assassination. This is a great loss to Pakistan. She was a brave and colourful politician. She joined politics after her father was interned and later hanged. She won the elections and became prime minister twice. Despite her human failings like everyone else, she was a great leader. She was highly educated and articulate. She had always denied claims that she was pursuing great power.

In one of her last interviews, she said that her agenda was for her country and that she listened to her people. She was for democracy and the people, particularly the poor. She was also against military dictators as she was wrongfully-deposed twice. She was faithful to the constitution enacted in 1973 when her father was president. It contained a proper fusion between Islam and democracy.

Pakistani politics has gone into a new phase of uncertainty. Army rule has never helped Pakistan but has compounded its problems. We hope and pray that the syahadat (martyr) of Benazir will lead Pakistan to meaningful democracy and the people’s rule.

It is time to eradicate all forms of terrorism particularly in Muslim countries. It is also the duty of major powers to look into their foreign policies to determine if their actions are generating terrorism. We ask that Islam, or Muslims in general, not be made scapegoats for immoral and inhuman activities of misguided groups or extremists.