Rawalpindi: An attack on a political rally killed the Pakistani Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto including 30 more people near the capital.
Witnesses said Ms. Bhutto was fired upon before the blast, and an official from her party said Ms. Bhutto was further injured by the explosion, which was apparently caused by a suicide attacker.
Hundreds of party supporters had gathered at the rally, which was being held at Liaqut Bagh, a park that is a common venue for political rallies , in Rawalpindi, the garrison city adjacent to the capital.
When Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October, her rally was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead.
Earlier on Thursday at least four people were killed ahead of an election rally that Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was preparing to attend close to Rawalpindi.
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Due to holidays, I was a little slow on hearing this news. I heard it via a friend as I was enjoying my morning coffee. Also see the following articles: Reuters, NYTimes, Times of India & BBC UK
At this point, the group responsible for the attack is unknown. The global media is full of ideas, and one even suggested it was the work out Al-Qaeda. I think it is a little early to suggestion that connection, but it is the media.
Perhaps it was a rival political party, perhaps it was Taliban type forces...who knows, we will have to wait and see.
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