Daylight has come to Pakistan, as has calm. Grief, shock and anger over Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, however, are still with us. It appears that the wave of rage that washed over some areas in the night subsided fairly early. The three day mourning period for Benazir has begun, and with it, an uneasy truce. However, the potential for violence remains high, so high that the city of Karachi (a PPP stronghold) is under virtual lockdown today, with flights in and out of that city suspended for the day.
Here in Lahore, there were small, but violent demonstrations. There were reports in the local papers today of beatings of police officers, and burning of buildings (especially banks), cars, homes and political billboards. We understand that some of this was close by, but things were actually quieter than we have heard in a long time (Lahore comes alive at about six p.m., and perks along until 2-3 a.m.).
The future is pretty cloudy right now. Some are saying that Benazir’s death also marks the death of the political process in the country. The feeling is that if the Taleban/al-Qaeda have now dedicated themselves to controlling who can and can’t participate in the political process,fear will rule in the country (as in Afghanistan). Others wonder who or what will take Benazir’s place at the helm of the PPP, or if that party will even survive if there are no Bhuttos to head it. This also means that, at the moment, the only large opposition party that has a head is the PML-N, which is headed by another former Prime Minister (who was no more successful than Bhutto), Nawaz Sharif.
Benazir will have been buried by the time most of you read this. With her body will be interred the last few years of prosperity and (relative) peace that has enabled Pakistan to progress up until this year. The next few months will determine what manner of future Pakistan will have. Cast with the fortunes of the nation, naturally, come those of the Christian community and institutions (like Forman Christian College) as well. Please pray for peace, stability, and humaneness in this place.
Marianne Vermeer and Robert Johnson are Presbyterian mission co-workers, serving at Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.
