DAWN 28-12-2011

MOURNED by thousands, a dynamic champion of democracy was paid homage yesterday at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the occasion of her fourth death anniversary. The late Benazir Bhutto left behind many admirers and in her passing, despite the disparity in social status, joined the ranks of ordinary party activists who fought with their lives for a common cause. Irrespective of political divides, she will be forever missed by those who believe that a truly democratic culture needs to take root in this country so it can flourish and put an end to any future attempts at adventurism. True, deals could have been brokered that may not be palatable for some. But there can be no denying that Benazir Bhutto was a brave politician who fought for the rights of the Pakistani public.

Now let`s address the murkier side of the equation. The party currently in power, Ms Bhutto`s own Pakistan People`s Party, has been at the helm of affairs since March 2008. It has been said on numerous occasions by the late Ms Bhutto`s husband President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as the prime minister and members of the inner coterie, that the identity of her killers are known to the government and that her assassins will be brought to justice — with the proviso that this can only happen when the time is right. Such statements do not instil confidence amongst the general public and leads to the view that the government is in fact disregarding the issue. Whatever the truth, it is clear that there has been a massive government failure on this count that cannot be explained away by the same old statements. If the authorities are confident they know who killed Benazir Bhutto, the assassins should be arrested forthwith. Was it Baitullah Mehsud and his murderous cohorts in the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan who assassinated Benazir Bhutto? Was the plan hatched in an entirely different quarter, and if so where? With no credible answers the government should simply close the case and admit its inadequacy. If this government can`t solve the case, it is highly unlikely that any other dispensation will.