Benazir Bhutto, a pioneering figure as the first woman leader of a Muslim nation, remains a subject of intense global interest. The decade following her assassination has not only failed to deliver definitive answers about who orchestrated her death but has instead illuminated the complex and often opaque workings of Pakistan’s power structures. This article delves into the unresolved questions surrounding the Benazir Bhutto assassination, exploring the official accounts, the lingering doubts, and the individuals who met untimely ends in the aftermath.
On December 27, 2007, Benazir Bhutto’s life was tragically cut short by a suicide bomber identified as 15-year-old Bilal. This attack occurred immediately after she concluded an election rally in Rawalpindi. Bilal, acting under the directives of the Pakistani Taliban, approached her convoy, firing shots before detonating an explosive device. Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister who himself faced a grim end by hanging under General Zia-ul Haq’s military regime, had twice served as Prime Minister in the 1990s. Despite her political prominence, she faced constant suspicion from the military establishment, which ultimately used corruption allegations to remove her from power.
Alt text: Benazir Bhutto election rally Rawalpindi Pakistan, moments before assassination.
At the time of her assassination, Benazir Bhutto was actively campaigning for a third term as Prime Minister. Her death ignited widespread civil unrest across Pakistan. Her devoted supporters flooded the streets, erecting roadblocks, setting fires, and voicing vehement anti-Pakistan slogans, reflecting the deep emotional and political shockwaves that resonated throughout the nation.
General Musharraf’s Bombshell: Whispers of Establishment Involvement in Benazir Bhutto Murder
A decade later, General Pervez Musharraf, who was at the helm of Pakistan during that tumultuous period, made a startling suggestion. He hinted at the potential involvement of elements within the Pakistani establishment in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
When questioned about the possibility of rogue elements within the establishment collaborating with the Taliban in the killing, General Pervez Musharraf acknowledged, “Possibility. Yes indeed. Because the society is polarised on religious lines.” He further implied that these elements could have played a role in her death, a significant departure from the usual denials by Pakistani military leaders regarding state complicity in jihadist attacks.
Alt text: Benazir Bhutto waving from car Rawalpindi Pakistan, seconds before bomb attack.
While asserting he lacked concrete evidence, Musharraf stated his “assessment is very accurate I think… A lady who is in known to be inclined towards the West is seen suspiciously by those elements.” Notably, Pervez Musharraf himself faces serious charges in connection to the Benazir Bhutto case, including murder, criminal conspiracy for murder, and facilitation of murder. Prosecutors allege that Musharraf made a threatening phone call to Benazir Bhutto in Washington on September 25, weeks before her return from exile.
Mark Seighal, a long-time aide to Bhutto, and journalist Ron Suskind both corroborated the phone call. Seighal recounted Bhutto’s immediate reaction after the call: “He threatened me. He told me not to come back. He warned me not to come back. And he said that her safety, her security was a function of her relationship with him.” Musharraf, however, vehemently denies making the call and dismisses the murder accusations as laughable.
Alt text: Pervez Musharraf BBC interview, denying Benazir Bhutto assassination threats.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Accusations and the Stalled Legal Pursuit of Musharraf
Legal proceedings against Pervez Musharraf remain stalled due to his self-imposed exile in Dubai. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Benazir Bhutto’s son and political heir, has unequivocally rejected Musharraf’s denials, asserting, “Musharraf exploited this entire situation to assassinate my mother. He purposely sabotaged her security so that she would be assassinated and taken off the scene.”
Confessions, Acquittals, and Lingering Questions in Benazir Bhutto Case
While Musharraf’s case remains unresolved, five suspects initially confessed to aiding Bilal in the assassination, claiming directives from the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda. Aitzaz Shah, initially designated as the suicide bomber, confessed to being a reserve operative. Rasheed Ahmed and Sher Zaman admitted to organizational roles, and cousins Hasnain Gul and Rafaqat Hussain confessed to providing accommodation to Bilal.
Alt text: Benazir Bhutto assassination shooter Rawalpindi rally, Dawn News TV footage.
Alt text: Benazir Bhutto car bomb explosion Rawalpindi rally, Getty Images.
Despite these confessions being later retracted, phone records and DNA evidence appeared to corroborate their involvement. However, in a stunning turn, a judge acquitted these five alleged plotters due to procedural errors in evidence gathering and presentation, though they remain detained pending appeal.
Alt text: Five suspects acquitted Benazir Bhutto murder case, still in detention.
Benazir Bhutto: A Legacy Marred by Controversy and Tragedy
Benazir Bhutto’s political career was marked by both triumphs and tribulations. Serving twice as Prime Minister, from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, she initially presented a youthful and modern image, contrasting sharply with Pakistan’s traditional political landscape. However, her tenures were also plagued by accusations of corruption and ineffective governance. Leaving Pakistan in 1999, she returned in 2007 after an amnesty deal with Musharraf, aiming to contest the upcoming elections. Her return procession was targeted by a massive bombing, which she survived, foreshadowing the tragic assassination two months later.
Alt text: Benazir Bhutto election campaign Mirpur Khas Pakistan, December 2007.
Asif Zardari’s Presidency and Unanswered Questions
Following Benazir Bhutto’s death, Asif Zardari, her widower, ascended to the presidency, fueling conspiracy theories alleging his involvement in her assassination. These theories often cite his political gain as the primary motive, though no concrete evidence has ever surfaced to substantiate these claims. Zardari has vehemently denied any involvement.
Alt text: Asif Zardari BBC interview, denying involvement Benazir Bhutto assassination.
However, Asif Zardari also faces criticism for allegedly failing to ensure a thorough investigation into his wife’s murder during his presidency. Secret documents obtained by the BBC reveal significant inadequacies in the police investigation, suggesting a deliberate lack of diligence in pursuing the truth beyond the apprehended low-level operatives. The botched investigation into a prior assassination attempt on Bhutto in October 2007 further underscores these concerns.
Despite Zardari’s initiation of a UN commission of inquiry and Scotland Yard’s involvement, the UN commission reported significant obstruction from both the military and Zardari’s own political allies, hindering their efforts to uncover the full truth.
A Deadly Trail: Mysterious Deaths Linked to the Benazir Bhutto Assassination
Evidence uncovered by the BBC points to a potential cover-up, with indications that individuals connected to the assassination plot met with suspicious deaths. Two men allegedly involved in assisting the teenage assassin were reportedly killed at a military checkpoint shortly after the assassination. Further, several individuals linked to the Haqqania madrassa, associated with the plot, also died in subsequent events.
Abad ur Rehman, a bomb-maker linked to the suicide vest used in the attack, was killed in a tribal area in 2010. Abdullah, allegedly involved in transporting suicide vests, died in an explosion in 2008. Khalid Shahenshah, Benazir Bhutto’s security guard, whose unusual gestures during her final speech sparked widespread speculation, was also murdered in 2008. Adding to the grim toll, Chaudhry Zulfikar, the state prosecutor making headway in the Bhutto investigation, was assassinated in 2013.
Alt text: Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali prosecutor Benazir Bhutto case, leaving court Rawalpindi.
Ikramullah: The Suicide Bomber Who Lived On
Adding another layer of intrigue, a second suicide bomber, Ikramullah, believed to have accompanied Bilal, was initially declared dead by Pakistani officials. However, he resurfaced on a most-wanted terrorist list in 2017 and is now believed to be alive and a commander within the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan.
Alt text: Survivor emotion bomb site Benazir Bhutto assassination Rawalpindi.
Unpunished Masterminds and Pakistan’s Deep State
To date, only two police officers, implicated in hosing down the crime scene, have faced punishment in connection to the Benazir Bhutto assassination. This outcome is widely perceived as inadequate, reinforcing the belief of a high-level cover-up orchestrated by Pakistan’s “deep state.” This shadowy network, composed of current and former military personnel, is believed by many to operate beyond accountability, safeguarding what they define as Pakistan’s core national interests, potentially even through extra-legal means. The Benazir Bhutto assassination, therefore, remains a stark reminder of unresolved mysteries and the enduring questions surrounding power and accountability in Pakistan.
