Bye Bye, BB

So Benazir has been murdered. Let's take a look at the situation back in the old country.

She was an avowed democrat, her daddy's girl (although he foolishly got caught rigging an election he would have won if he hadn't interefered). Whilst in power, she was a supporter of the Taleban (on the misguided notion of 'strategic depth') and mismanaged the economy; out of power, she was implicated in various corruption cases outside of Pakistan; was married to a man nicknamed as 'Mr. 10%' for his role in securing a slice of lucrative deals, and implicated in the extra-judicial murder of her brother Murtaza, outside his house, while she was Prime Minister (just ask Murtaza's daughter).

Her murder will scare off that other standard-bearer for corruption and incompetence, Nawaz Sharif. This sad event may well strengthen Musharraf's hand with foreign powers (not that they care a jot about Pakistanis), although he is no democrat. Musharraf may well be honest, but he is tainted by his authoritarian tendancies, and more so by his political associates and corrupt underlings (military intelligence - ISI - doesn't appear to be under anyone's control). Not for nothing was former PM Shaukut Aziz known as 'Short Cut' for his approach to privatisations.

Strangely, she was murdered in Rawalpindi, one of the larger cities in Punjab Province - not a particularly religious place by any means - and the army's headquarter's. There's a strong message being sent in the choice of target and venue.

Nawaz Sharif will continue to boycott the elections - mainly because he can't win them, and with BB now dead, an election could potentially see her PPP win on a wave of sympathy.

I would love to see the current political class swept away, but not like this, and not to be replaced by their relatives.

Education. Civic responsibility. Anti-corruption. Democracy can only flourish with a few good examples, and there's nobody there to lead the way.

As you read the obituaries, listen to the tributes, take care to note party/tribal/familial affiliations and see how many real, everyday Pakistani's (not on the gravy train) miss her, i.e. those not bribed with free rice as all political actors are prone to doing near an election.

Beware people playing to the camera.

Pakistan is in the grip of a political class that acts like a bunch of feudal landlords, dishes out patronage & punishment and has the dubious distinction of being both corrupt and incompetent. With an environment like that and 'friends' like the USA, of course people will sadly be turned towards religious extremism - which is no solution either.