ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—"Whether you are anti-Bhutto or pro-Bhutto, everyone is sad to hear of the murder of Benazir Bhutto," said Yasser Iqbal, a political science student and Lahore resident.
"She was a mother and had three children." Iqbal's sentiments speak to those of many Pakistanis.
During a campaign rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2008, Benazir Bhutto, chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party, was assassinated in a gun and suicide attack.
She was taken to the nearby Rawalpindi General Hospital and died shortly after from bullets that pierced her neck and damaged her trachea.
At least 28 other people were also killed and some 100 injured during the same rally.
In expressions of grief and anger, supporters of the People's Party took to the streets, bashing cars, burning political posters, vehicles, and buildings.
Riots have been reported in major cities in Pakistan, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, and most notably in Karachi, in the province of Sindh, Benazir's home base.
On the evening of Benazir's death, People's Party supporters came to Yasser Iqbal's neighborhood in Anarkali, one of the poorest and oldest parts of Lahore. They bashed in car windows, and attempted to destroy other property.
He and his family and nearby neighbors, in an effort to keep their property from being further destroyed, formed a human chain blocking the alleys.
They emphatically told rioters that they too were saddened by the news of Benazir's death. Though rioters went away, they tried to climb onto the roof of his four-story apartment building and to tear down political posters supporting an opposition political party, the Pakistan Muslim League.
Iqbal said that police were out in full force that evening and the following day. Though there was relative calm on the street by then, he was feeling apprehensive and remained shocked at Benazir's death.
The government of Pakistan declared three days of mourning. The day after the assassination streets were empty in the state capitol of Islamabad and in other cities.
Businesses remained closed. Many people stayed indoors, uncertain of what they might encounter on the streets.
The Pakistan People's Party has announced 40 days of mourning.
Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Muslim League, has called for a boycott of the elections, as an expression of protest against the brutal killing of Benazir. He has also clearly stated he does not expect fair elections.
Although the current interim prime minister has indicated that elections will be held as scheduled on Jan. 8, many political analysts doubt that this will be possible.
Pakistanis, as well a people around the world concerned about the fate of Pakistanis and the future of democratic process in the country, are now waiting to see what emerges in the next few days and the coming weeks.
Walking around his neighborhood, talking and listening to people, Iqbal observed that people are feeling quite vulnerable. "If someone as popular as Benazir can be assassinated, people are wondering what might happen to them at the hands of those who have killed her."
He added, "I heard many people say, 'May God have mercy on us.'"
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