New York City Reacts to Bhutto's Death

As violence continues in Pakistan in the wake of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination, New York City's Pakistani population was shocked by the news, watching news coverage and holding vigils. One woman said to the Daily News, "For us, this is like losing [President John] Kennedy. She wanted peace. She wanted democracy. And she lost her life for these things." And a man told the NY Times, “I think there will be a lot of violence after this, and chances are pretty slim for democracy."

Bhutto had been at a rally in Rawalpindi, in hopes of winning the January election and becoming prime minister for a third term, when a suicide bomber attacked. CNN is reporting that Pakistan's Interior Ministry says "Benazir Bhutto died from a fractured skull after hitting her head on a lever -- not from a bullet or shrapnel." Additionally, the ministry says the attacker has ties to al Qaeda. The NYPD increased security at several locations, such as the Pakistani Consulate, United Nations, and Pakistani neighborhoods and businesses. But many Pakistani residents are worried about relatives in Pakistan. One said of relatives there, "I called my family this morning, and they said they are not stepping out of the house People have set fires. Cars are burning."

Mayor Bloomberg acknowledged the more than 100,000 New Yorkers of Pakistani heritage in his statement about Bhutto's death:

"Hers was a voice for democracy, and the silencing of it - by such brutal means - is a shock to us all. Ms. Bhutto's death - and the deaths of the many other Pakistanis who were killed today simply for expressing their views - is a great loss for friends of democracy and for everyone who is united in the fight against terror. It's also a grim reminder that many people consider the freedoms we cherish a threat. The perpetrators of this violent act must be brought to justice, and it is my hope that President Musharraf will follow through on free and fair elections in January as a testament to Ms. Bhutto's legacy."

Bhutto had visited New York City three times this year. Pakistan Post editor Afaq Farooqi told the Daily News, "She loved New York. She liked to go to the South Street Seaport and eat close to the water."

The NY Times has a map showing NYC's Pakistani neighborhoods.

Photograph of a man who collapsed in tears and screams at an impromptu rally in New York City last night by Seth Wenig/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 28, 2007 12:03 PM

Comments [rss]

matthew gannon

Musharraf and Al Qaeda are on the same team.

JacqueMehoff

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brian_katulis/2007/12/air_of_uncertainty.html

"As the world remembers her contributions, it should also keep her record in perspective. Under Bhutto, Pakistan provided support to the Taliban in the 1990s. Some observers note that Bhutto was not the saviour of democracy she claimed to be, including Bhutto's niece in a recent, biting op-ed in the Los Angeles Times. And it was also in part on Bhutto's watch that Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father Pakistan's nuclear programme, built an international network that led to dangerous transfers of nuclear technology."

Spirit of 76

It may well have been Al Qaeda. But Musharraf and his cronies are far from blameless. It doesn't take Oliver Stone to see a conspiracy of intentional negligence in terms of her security, given how many times she was attacked. If Musharraf was smart, he would have set up a plot then foiled it, making himself look like a good guy. Letting his opponent be conveniently assassinated doesn't fool anybody.

peachfuzzbutt

Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan twice already. The result? Over $1 billion looted from the state. She was back in Pakistan after Musharraf dropped the corruption charges that were against her, ignored the term limits laws that were on the books, and promptly fired the Supreme Court to ensure his power-sharing arrangement with Bhutto would not be disrupted.

There is nothing wrong with expressing remorse over the horrible events that killed not only her but other innocent bystanders as well. But it extremely naive to start refashioning her into some combination of Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.

rodney

Does anyone in the entire world buy that BS line that it was Al Quaeda? Come on Musharraf we aren't that stupid.

SP

This wasn't done by Al Qaeda, this was done by Musharraf.

DaLata

Gothamist, thank you for providing that bottom caption explaining the photo. It looked more like that guy was bereved because he forgot to refill the parking meter, resulting in his car being towed, and thusly collapsed on the police van's front bumper in despair...and the onlookers are all waiting to buy tickets to the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert reunion

DaLata

Gothamist, thank you for providing that bottom caption explaining the photo. It looked more like that guy was bereved because he forgot to refill the parking meter, resulting in his car being towed, and thusly collapsed on the police van's front bumper in despair...and the onlookers are all waiting to buy tickets to the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert reunion

DaLata

Gothamist, thank you for providing that bottom caption explaining the photo. It looked more like that guy was bereved because he forgot to refill the parking meter, resulting in his car being towed, and thusly collapsed on the police van's front bumper in despair.

jammer

Could you internet trolls not be ASSHOLES for once? Albert Sharpton.

ed_Extinct

^it's great to see that none of the above comments know anything about other cultures.

JacqueMehoff:

carrying/parading a coffin around in Islam is a sign of honor.

zodak:

As for the counter violence comment, war is not going away just because "the good" was killed by evil. War is necessary in some instances, and sadly, the enemy in this instance, has no country to call home, they prey like a virus on other host countries.

This is a World War unlike we have ever seen or fought. This war will be everlasting into the next century, if we survive that long.

Albert Sharpton

You won't see the women grieving because the men would beat them if they did.

This is Charlie Brown rendition of the Koran/Islam, it's pretty accurate :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVMKBOANOc0

JacqueMehoff

aren't there any females grieving?

all I'm seeing from the media are hordes and hordes of men. especially frightening was when they took her coffin out of the hospital.

zodak

"For us, this is like losing [President John] Kennedy. She wanted peace."

that's why we're going to commit as many acts of violence as possible & we're going to do it in her name because, that really is the best way to honor her legacy.