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A Benazir Bhutto supporter mourns after an attack in Rawalpindi on Thursday, in which the Pakistani opposition leader was killed. (AP)
Last update - 23:16 27/12/2007
ANALYSIS: Conspiracy theories abound over Benazir Bhutto slaying
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Pervez Musharraf, India 

The most intriguing question that arises from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is who plotted and carried out the killing.

After the failed assassination attempt in Karachi, observers in Pakistan theorized extreme Muslim groups who were outlawed by President Pervez Musharraf, or Al-Qaida elements aligned with these groups, were responsible.

From these groups' point of view, Bhutto and her party are an enemy, perhaps an even more dangerous enemy than Musharraf. Yet, in Pakistan, considered one of the world's most fertile breeding grounds for conspiracy theories, many more possible suspects will be bandied about. Indeed, the blame can be laid at the feet of any of a large number of elements.
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The most astounding aspect of Thursday's events is the negligence displayed by Bhutto's security detail. According to reports, the assassin managed to approach Bhutto and position himself within a short distance of her, before proceeding to shoot her and detonate the explosives with which he was strapped. Not only did the assassin want to cause maximum casualties, but he also hoped that authorities would later be unable to identify him and thus ascertain which organization he was working for.

What makes the security failure all the more startling is the fact that it comes just weeks after the first assassination attempt following Bhutto's return to Pakistan from a lengthy political exile.

In the attempt, suicide bombers killed 150 people, although Bhutto escaped unharmed. Under these circumstances, it was chiefly incumbent on her security guards to do all in their power to prevent direct access to her, even during the course of an election campaign in which a candidate seeks to come into contact with the public.

One can make the claim - and some already have - that foreign agents of countries in conflict with Pakistan (re: India) orchestrated the assassination so as to create chaos and to create an image of a country that is unstable and unreliable.

Others will point the finger at Musharraf and his supporters, who viewed Bhutto as a rival who was likely to win next month's elections.

The likelihood of both claims is extremely low, especially considering the apparent deal in principle struck between Musharraf and Bhutto whereby both would enter a power-sharing arrangement and form a joint coalition.

Another possible perpetrator is former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, a bitter political rival of Bhutto who once ordered her husband arrested on corruption charges.

Related articles:
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  • Bhutto prays at father's grave, visits stronghold amid tight security
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      1.   someone said the gun used was israheli made little eagle 22:27  |  check 27/12/07
      2.   The saga of the 270 mill./80 mill. Indians killed by Islam on&on 23:55  |  Genuine Tosefta 27/12/07
      3.   Islam is to blame for Pakistan condition, it drives followers mad 23:58  |  Genuine Tosefta 27/12/07
      4.   CHECK 00:42  |  Brant 28/12/07
      5.   Mossad 00:42  |  Serge 28/12/07
      6.   #2loser 01:05  |  donnie 28/12/07
      7.   It is almost sure the work of religious fanatics 01:17  |  Shalom 28/12/07
      8.   #5, Serge Just wait its coming 03:46  |  Doc Holliday 28/12/07
      9.   #1 check 06:10  |  Sol 28/12/07
      10.   #5 Serge 06:12  |  Sol 28/12/07
      11.   #3 Softfeta -Nothing like this would ever happen in Israel 06:58  |  Israel_is_Done 28/12/07
      12.   Mossad 10:43  |  Wake UP 28/12/07
      13.   Nothing like this would happen in Israel??? 10:44  |  Wake Up 28/12/07
      14.   Benazir Bhutto 11:03  |  Sarah 28/12/07
      15.   Re: shalom in montreal 11:25  |  breezy 28/12/07
      16.   Predictable - everyone is to blame except Muslims 11:58  |  PK 28/12/07
      17.   no claim from Al khaida 13:55  |  jean marie 28/12/07
      18.   Party in Bali,Tube in London,Honeymoon in Kenya,Mauretania picnic 13:57  |  Alan 28/12/07
      19.   to pk in NYC 14:02  |  breezy 28/12/07
      20.   Radicals in military and ISI 14:51  |  Sadhasiv 28/12/07
      21.   #1 - check 15:01  |  MichaelF 28/12/07
      22.   Al-Queda claimed responsibility 16:49  |  Avi 28/12/07
      23.   to #16 PK the moslem hater 18:25  |  David 28/12/07
      24.   to #2 the hateful person,to the biased sensors of Haaretz 18:31  |  Zaki 28/12/07
      25.   to #3 ugly Tosefta 18:41  |  Zaki 28/12/07
      26.   It was the Mossad/CIA/IDF/MI6/Shin Bet/7 Eleven... 18:56  |  Conspiracy nut 28/12/07
      27.   Israel is interested in supporting the extremists 18:56  |  Zaki 28/12/07
      28.   to #2 I was angry,but not anymore 19:52  |  Zaki 28/12/07
      29.   Always look at who benefits and who has the capability. 19:53  |  Israel_is_Done 28/12/07
      30.   Zaki I wish we could sit down and talk over a cup of something 20:35  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/07
      31.   19# Zaki. How can you write a post like that ? 22:04  |  Akram Zekaria 28/12/07
      32.   to # 31 Akram Zekaria(part 1) 04:43  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      33.   to #31 Akram Zckaria( part 2) 05:00  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      34.   to #30 Genuine Tosefta (Part 1) 05:11  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      35.   to Genuine Tosefta (part 2) 05:22  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      36.   27 & 32 Zaki,duel thought puzzles me 15:36  |  Doc Holliday 29/12/07
      37.   Political disputes cannot be solved by religious means 16:15  |  Rowan Berkeley 29/12/07
      38.   Mr Zaki.You was not truthful in your responses 32/33-pt-1 16:45  |  Akram Zekaria 29/12/07
      39.   Nothing Zaki writes changes Islam`s wickedness or 270 mil. dead 18:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/12/07
      40.   #12 You will have to keep reminding us of this one assassination 18:30  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/12/07
      41.   No Al Kaida involved 18:43  |  Dav 29/12/07
      42.   to #38 Akram Zekaria(part 1) 19:12  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      43.   #41 Dav 19:23  |  Sarah 29/12/07
      44.   To Akram Zakaria,(part 2) 19:29  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      45.   to #39 Genuine tosefta(a nice advice) 19:51  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      46.   Zaki. I would like to respect your opinions-44# but 20:06  |  Akram Zekaria 29/12/07
      47.   To Haaretz- 2nd time request.Pls print my pt-2 to Mr Zaki: 20:10  |  Akram Zekaria 29/12/07
      48.   # 3 20:38  |  Kim 29/12/07
      49.   #43 Sarah. Al Qaeda militant did not kill Bhutto: spokesman 20:48  |  Dav 29/12/07
      50.   Mr Zaki.You was not truthful in your responses 32/33-pt-2 23:01  |  Akram Zekaria 29/12/07
      51.   to Akran Zekaria,we are the true friends of the jews 23:24  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      52.   to #50 Akram Zekaria,can you accept this challenge? 23:49  |  Zaki 29/12/07
      53.   to Akram Zekaria,people who killed Behutto 00:07  |  Zaki 30/12/07
      54.   THE GUN 00:56  |  MARK of ZORO 30/12/07
      55.   51# Zaki ! You are again missing the point. 03:27  |  Akram Zekaria 30/12/07
      56.   Akram Zakaria,I think it`s you who doesn`t want to understand 06:11  |  Zaki 30/12/07
      57.   The religion that advocate HATE of any kind 15:25  |  Akram Zekaria 30/12/07
      58.   conspiracy theories 19:55  |  ammalik 28/01/08
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