The assassination of Benazir Bhutto a tragedy for Pakistan and a loss for democracy and the world

The Socialist International, profoundly touched, vigorously condemns the cowardly and brutal assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the leader of our member party, the Pakistan People’s Party, PPP, and a committed, dedicated figure permanently at the forefront of the struggle for democracy, stability and peace in Pakistan and in that region of the world.

Our organisation, which supported unreservedly her struggle to recover democracy in Pakistan, shared fully her efforts to reestablish in her country a democratic, civilian-based government, and for real solutions to the social and economic problems facing the Pakistani people, and greeted withadmiration her courage and endeavours in favour of those objectives following her return to Pakistan two months ago.

Her voice has today been violently silenced, but her vision of a different Pakistan, born of free, fair and democratic elections, must be upheld despite terror and violence. It is therefore crucial that the international community should immediately and clearly demand that those responsible for this barbaric assassination should not go unpunished.

Today we pay homage to Benazir Bhutto. Her country has lost a great leader, democracy has lost a key defender, and the world has lost a strong advocate for peace and stability.

We express our most profound sympathy to her family, to the families of those killed with her, and to all the members of the Pakistan People’s Party. The Socialist International reaffirms its solidarity with the PPP and will actively continue to support it as it works to move forward the legacy and ideals for which Benazir Bhutto gave her life.

Statement issued by the Socialist International, 27 December 2007