BB says extremists plotted attack
Bureau Report/Agencies

KARACHI—Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto condemning the “dastardly and cowardly” suicide bomb attempt on her life vowed on Friday to continue struggle for democracy to save Pakistan.
In her first public comments since the attack, she said Pakistan was facing a battle for democracy with militants, and vowed to continue the struggle. She said she had received prior warning that she would be targeted by four suicide bombers, and had passed this information to the government.
She said that she knows who forces wanted to kill her. “I have written to President General Pervez Musharraf in this connection. These are the enemies of the democracy are the enemies of Pakistan. These militants are against the value system.
The value system include gender equality and empowerment which they do not like, she added. She said that sacrifices given the PPP supporters will not go in vain and their blood would restored real democracy in the Pakistan. She told a news conference that before the bombing, shots had been fired at her vehicle to stop it. It was unclear whether the driver had been disabled by this gunfire, she said. Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process Ms Bhutto also called for an inquiry into why the street lights along her route had been switched off. She said that while she was not blaming the government for the attacks, her security guards would have spotted suicide bombers if the street lights had been on. “For me, the attack was not on an individual, the attack was on what I represent - it was an attack on democracy, an attack on the very unity and integrity of Pakistan,” she said.
“What are the militants saying? They are saying it is not safe for peaceful people to gather together... this is a battle for democracy.” Ms Bhutto said those who had died in the attack - including 50 of her security guards - had made the “ultimate sacrifice” for democracy. The top leadership of the PPP including Vice President MAF, former Speaker Yousaf Raza Gillani, Secretary General Jahangir Badr, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qasim Zia Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly, Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro, Information Secretary Sherry Rehman, Political Secretary Naheed Khan, Security Advisor Dr Rehman Malik, Senator Safdar Abbasi, Ambassador Abida Hussain, and many others.

Death toll hits 145

KARACHI—A suicide bombing in a crowd welcoming former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed 145 people Thursday night, shattering her celebratory procession through Pakistan’s biggest city after eight years in exile.
Interior Ministry has confirmed 70 deaths in the attack. Two explosions struck near a truck carrying Bhutto, but she was not injured and was hurried to her house, police and officials of her party said. Officials at six hospitals in Karachi reported 130 dead and about 550 wounded, making it one of the deadliest bombings in Pakistan’s history.—Agencies