Did Military Snipers Kill Bhutto?

As Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest today, confusion still reigns as to who actually arranged the hit.

Eli Lake in the New York Sun reports it may have been military snipers.

American and Pakistani military leaders are seeking to account for what may be renegade commando units from the Pakistani military's special forces in the wake of the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

The attack yesterday at Rawalpindi bore the hallmarks of a sophisticated military operation. At first, Bhutto's rally was hit by a suicide bomb that turned out to be a decoy. According to press reports and a situation report of the incident relayed to The New York Sun by an American intelligence officer, Bhutto's armored limousine was shot by multiple snipers whose armor-piercing bullets penetrated the vehicle, hitting the former premier five times in the head, chest, and neck. Two of the snipers then detonated themselves shortly after the shooting, according to the situation report, while being pursued by local police.

A separate attack was thwarted at the local hospital where Bhutto possibly would have been revived had she survived the initial shooting. Also attacked yesterday was a rival politician, Nawaz Sharif, another former prime minister who took power after Bhutto lost power in 1996.

A working theory, according to this American source, is that Al Qaeda or affiliated jihadist groups had effectively suborned at least one unit of Pakistan's Special Services Group, the country's equivalent of Britain's elite SAS commandos. This official, however, stressed this was just a theory at this point. Other theories include that the assassins were trained by Qaeda or were from other military services, or the possibility that the assassins were retired Pakistani special forces.

"They just killed the most protected politician in the whole country," this source said. "We really don't know a lot at this point, but the first thing that is happening is we are asking the Pakistani military to account for every black team with special operations capabilities."

Lost in the rapidly developing story was this item I first noted before Bhutto was pronounced dead.

Around 4,000 additional police personnel and commandos have been called for security arrangements after intelligence agencies and the federal government warned of possible terror attacks on Benazir Bhutto.

Extraordinary security arrangements have also been made around the Rawalpindi city, Liaquat Bagh and the Islamabad International Airport. Bunkers and check posts have also been set up at different places in the city and walkthrough gates would be installed at entry points of Liaquat Bagh.

Entry to the public rally premises will only be allowed after complete identification and thorough checking. Police personnel in civvies will also patrol the nearby areas and hotels to guard against any terrorist activity.
...
Police personnel would also be deputed on rooftops of the nearby buildings. Under the security arrangements, no one, including party activists, will be allowed to come near the vehicle of Benazir Bhutto.

Well, judging by the photos and video shown Thursday, there were plenty of people near Bhutto's vehicle.

Given the security procedures supposedly in place, it further makes sense that perhaps snipers did indeed perform the hit rather than anyone up close.

Meanwhile, Pakistani troops have been ordered to shoot on sight rioters and looters.

As mobs looted and set buildings on fire, paramilitary rangers were given the authority to use live fire to stop rioters from damaging property in southern Pakistan.

Major Asad Ali, the rangers' spokesman, told reporters: "We have orders to shoot at sight."

However, despite fears that the election on 8 January could be put off, the country's caretaker prime minister Muhammad Soomro announced today that the government had no immediate plans to postpone it.

Meanwhile, the death toll in rioting is now up to 19.

UPDATE: Lawhawk tipped me to Captain Ed's item discussing the Eli Lake story, which is also noted by AJ Strata.

There is a lot of wild speculation and many theories floating around and it's virtually impossible to tell for sure what happened, though it does seem clear the military there was long ago infiltrated and that alone presents many dangers as time goes on.

Suicide Bombing at Bhutto Rally; Bhutto Critical? (UPDATE) Bhutto Dead

Benazir Bhutto driving through the streets, waving at her supporters, just seconds before she was shot and the suicide bomber hit today

(Via Hot Air)

UPDATE: Benazir Bhutto is dead.

Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was targeted in a deadly suicide bombing Thursday. Media reports quote her husband saying she suffered a bullet wound to the neck in the attack.

This is curious that she reportedly died from a bullet wound, likely meaning the suicide bomber may not have caused the wound and she was shot by someone else.

Obviously, more details to follow.

UPDATE II: More from the Washington Post.

Bhutto was shot at close range as she was leaving the rally in this garrison city south of Islamabad, aides said. Immediately after the shooting, a suicide bomber detonated explosives near Bhutto's car, killing at least 15 other people.

Bhutto was rushed to a hospital with extensive wounds to her torso, her supporters said. Shortly after she arrived at the hospital, an official came out of the building and told a crowd of supporters Bhutto was dead.

Also Thursday, a rooftop sniper opened fire on supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at a different pre-election rally in Rawalpindi, leaving four dead and at least five injured.

Bhutto's death is a devastating development, coming 12 days before Pakistanis are set to vote in national parliamentary elections already marked by enormous political turmoil. President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in November -- a move which he said was to combat terrorism, but which was widely perceived as an effort to stave off legal challenges to his authority. U.S. military officials said last week that the terrorist group al-Qaeda increasingly is focusing its efforts in Pakistan.

UPDATE III: Reaction via Memeorandum. Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, Jules Crittenden, Don Surber, LGF, Noblesse Oblige, Doug Ross, Pajamas Media have more (via Glenn Reynolds).

This could quickly get ugly.

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto threatens to plunge a nuclear armed Pakistan into civil war, opposition groups warned today.

The former prime minister was killed by a suicide bomber as she left a public rally in the city of Rawalpindi today.

Commentators said the killing would make the postponement of the upcoming elections almost certain and could spark further unrest.

Riaz Malik, of the opposition Pakistan Movement for Justice party (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), warned: "The impact will be that Pakistan is in more turmoil - it will be the start of civil war in Pakistan.

"There is a very real danger of civil war in Pakistan."

UPDATE IV: HuffPost commenters unhinged, wish Bush and Blair who were murdered.

scampy123 (See profile | I'm a fan of scampy123)
If only we could read that Bush and Blair had been blown to bits with this greedy corrupt bitch who was persuaded to return for the American style of imposed democracy.
Why have the war criminals Bush and Blair have not been assasinated?
Reply | posted 09:46 am on 12/27/2007

Bluedanube (See profile | I'm a fan of Bluedanube)
A tragedy for democratic reform in Pakistan. A preview of what opponents to the Republican Party can expect?
Reply | posted 09:40 am on 12/27/2007

UPDATE V: AQ takes responsibility, of course. (HT: Lawhawk).

UPDATE VI: Some reaction from U.S. presidential candidates. More here. Reaction here from Pakistanis in the U.S. President Bush response shown here (scroll down for video). Others weigh in here (via Hot Air).

This is getting to be a recurring theme.

A suicide bomber struck shortly after Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto addressed a political rally in this garrison city on Thursday, killing at least 20 people, witnesses said.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene could see body parts and flesh scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park where Bhutto had spoken. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded people.

Police official Abdul Karim said Bhutto had already left the area in her vehicle when the blast went off, just minutes after her speech to thousands of supporters.

Another police official, Saud Aziz, said it was a suicide attack.

Farahtullah Babar, spokesman for Bhutto party, said her vehicle was some 50 yards away from blast, just after leaving the rally venue in Rawalpindi.

This report indicates Bhutto is safe, but Fox reported a sources said that she may have been injured.

"She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound. We could feel its impact but by the grace of God she is safe," he said.

Just yesterday, police had stopped a 15-year-old carrying a bomb at a Bhutto rally.

This attack comes after police had announced tightened security plans in Rawalpindi.

Around 4,000 additional police personnel and commandos have been called for security arrangements after intelligence agencies and the federal government warned of possible terror attacks on Benazir Bhutto.

Extraordinary security arrangements have also been made around the Rawalpindi city, Liaquat Bagh and the Islamabad International Airport. Bunkers and check posts have also been set up at different places in the city and walkthrough gates would be installed at entry points of Liaquat Bagh.

Entry to the public rally premises will only be allowed after complete identification and thorough checking. Police personnel in civvies will also patrol the nearby areas and hotels to guard against any terrorist activity.

It apparently wasn't enough or, perhaps, there was an inside job.

Also Thursday, gunmen opened fire on supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Gunmen opened fire on supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday from an office of the party that supports President Pervez Musharraf killing four Sharif supporters, police said.

It was the worst violence related to a Jan. 8 general election since campaigning began in earnest in mid-December.

Sharif was several kilometres away from the shooting and was on his way to Rawalpindi city after attending a rally.

Sharif blamed supporters of the pro-Musharraf party for the violence but a spokesman for the party denied that its workers were involved.

The shooting occurred near an office of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

CNN is reporting Bhutto may be in critical condition.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is said to be critically wounded following a suicide attack on a political rally in Rawalpindi, her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, was quoted as saying on CNN affiliate Geo TV.

BBC also reports Bhutto is wounded.

New al Qaeda Plot Against Musharraf Revealed

As Pervez Musharraf granted himself more powers, a new plot against him by al Qaeda was revealed.

INTELLIGENCE authorities in Karachi yesterday claimed to have uncovered an al-Qa'ida plot to blow up Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf as the leader granted himself sweeping new powers over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

The alleged plot was disclosed only hours before the state of emergency imposed by Mr Musharraf last month was due to be lifted.

It also coincided with the publication of a poll conducted by US Republican Party researchers that underlined the extent of Mr Musharraf's unpopularity ahead of next month's general election.

The report incorrectly notes it's the Republican Party that issued this report, when in actuality it's a group called the International Republican Institute. Whatever the case, that's a bad error.

It continues.

The poll, by the International Republican Institute and reported in The New York Times, suggests 67 per cent of Pakistanis want Mr Musharraf to resign immediately and 70 per cent say that his Government does not deserve re-election.

It also found that Washington and London's hopes for a power-sharing alliance between Mr Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is opposed by 60 per cent of Pakistanis.

The poll's main findings confirm assessments attributed to Pakistan's intelligence agencies that while the branch of the Pakistan Muslim League aligned with Mr Musharraf may emerge as the largest single party in the election, Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif's own branch of the PML will do well, with hardline religious parties holding the balance of power.

Yesterday, Mr Musharraf passed a law granting himself ultimate control over the country's National Command Authority, which is in charge of all aspects of the country's nuclear arsenal and use of its nuclear technology.

The assassination plot, it was claimed, was to blow up an entire bridge on the city's Drig Road that would be used by Mr Musharraf on a visit to Karachi.

Pakistani news agencies quoted officials as saying the plot involved a fall-back plan for two follow-up attacks in case the first attempt to kill Mr Musharraf failed.

They said interrogation of suspects involved in the alleged plot had revealed plans for attacks on foreign diplomatic missions, and last night security on these and other strategic buildings across Pakistan was significantly increased.

Mr Musharraf, 64, has survived a series of attempts on his life since he seized power in 1999, the last being in July when an anti-aircraft gun was fired at his aircraft as it took off from Rawalpindi.

Earlier yesterday, al-Qa'ida- and Taliban-linked suicide bombers were blamed for two separate attacks on a military checkpoint at the army garrison in Quetta, capital of the troubled province of Balochistan, which left at least 10 soldiers dead and more than 22 wounded.

Meanwhile, the Washington Times today notes that a baby was rigged with a bomb in an attempt to kill Benazir Bhutto back in October, a story we noted last month.

Welcome Back: Now Get Out

You get the feeling Islamic Rage Boy isn't going to like this.


Pakistan deports ex-PM on return

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been deported within hours of returning from exile.

After arriving at Islamabad airport he was arrested on charges of money laundering and put on a plane which later landed in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Sharif says he wants to challenge President Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him in a 1999 coup, ahead of elections.

Mr Sharif arrived in Pakistan weeks after the country's Supreme Court affirmed his right to return.

On board the plane which flew him to Pakistan from London, Mr Sharif told the BBC he wanted to help restore the rule of law.

"It's democracy versus dictatorship," he said.

Once the plane arrived in Islamabad, paramilitary troops surrounded it and there was a stand-off on board as Mr Sharif refused to hand over his passport to immigration officials for nearly two hours.

Eventually he agreed to leave the plane and was escorted to the airport's VIP lounge.

But shortly afterwards, he was separated from his entourage, returned to the tarmac and put on board a helicopter. Later, he was transferred to a plane bound for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.