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February 11, 2012

Home > 2007 > December (Web-only)Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2007
Speaking Out
Remembering Benazir
A UK Christian mourns the charismatic Pakistani leader.




Thursday's tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan who returned to her country two months ago, is a staggering loss. Worldwide, Christians who are passionate about reaching Muslims should mourn her murder.

My own heart is heavy, as a great woman and honest friend has been taken away. I knew Benazir personally, having debated her at the Oxford Union a few years ago. The day after the debate, she invited me to a private tea in her London home, where we talked about our similar backgrounds. We were both the same age and had grown up in Christian boarding schools: she in Pakistan, and I across the border in India.

Though a secular Muslim, she praised her Christian schooling, saying it had made her into the woman she was. She saw the advantages that good Christian schooling could bring to her country and so was eager to create an environment in Pakistan where Jews, Christians, and Muslims could worship and thrive together without fear.

I remember her as a humble and winsome spirit. In fact, I found it hard to accept her as a heavyweight in Pakistani politics. She seemed to be an open and positive individual who so wanted the freedoms she saw and enjoyed in the West for her own country.

In our debate at the Union, which questioned whether Islam was relevant for the 21st century, she presented herself as an example of modern-day Islam, stipulating that if she was relevant to the West, then so was Islam. Little did she realize that her lifestyle had less to do with Islam than with the freedoms she had so easily adopted while living in the West, brought about by a Judeo-Christian environment.

Perhaps that was her undoing. Having spent so much time enjoying the freedoms and liberties of London life, she seemed unable to accept that the same was not true of her native land. She was not prepared to hide herself away from the people she loved and went to serve in Pakistan.

She seemed to believe that by sheer personality she could bring Pakistan "kicking and screaming" into the 21st century. She had been warned many times to stay away from large crowds, yet even the attempt on her life the day she returned to Pakistan, barely two months ago, did not sway her from enjoying personal contact with the people of Pakistan.

It was this desire that drove her to stand up through the sunroof in her car and so become a perfectly visible target for the assassin's bullet, followed by the bomb that tore into her car.

Some will call this desire naiveté. Others will say it fed her vanity. Certainly, she knew the risks of assassination, coming from a family where both her brother and father had been assassinated.

Yet even before her return, when questioned about the dangers, she said that she was ready for death, which points to her courage and bravery. Deep down I understand her, since I also get death threats (which I ignore). But the scale of our lives and work are in such contrast that there is really no comparison.

Pakistan stands at the center, geopolitically, for much of what is yet to happen between Islam and the rest of the Western world. More so, I believe, than the Middle East or even Iraq or Iran, not only because of its enormous Muslim population (more than 160 million), but also because of its growing brand of radicalism, which, due to Al Qaeda's influence, is gaining control of Islamic radicalism worldwide.

Benazir understood the threat of radicalism better than anyone else. She brazenly and publicly stood up to the Islamists with a clear desire to take Pakistan back to its roots as a freedom-affirming, civilian-ruled republic. She and other Pakistani leaders dreamed of steering their nation firmly toward the Western world, modeled on what she had seen and enjoyed, not only during her Christian education, but also during her many years in London.





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Displaying 1–5 of 9 comments

Jim of Bentley

January 08, 2008  6:23am

The death of Ms Bhutto is sad, as is the violent death of anyone. However, before the west goes on to much about "Saint Benazir", let us remember that, while in office, her period of governance was one of mismanagement and corruption. She accomplished virtually nothing for her people, and failed to improve their lot. Far from being the great hope for Pakistani democracy, she was simply the front for continued neglect and corruption. A neglect and corruption which allows extremists to have their sway, and to bring that country into further turmoil.

H. D. Schmidt

January 02, 2008  7:58am

However, if looked at things very carefully, the reponsbile and guilty ones for Bhutto's despicable death is none other than George W. and Mr. Cheny who urged Pakistan to ever sooner hold election there and encouraging (certainly not telling her right out to stay where she is for the time being) this great lady to in reality jump into a real lions den. Anyone not very versed in things could see the handwriting on the wall. In reality I am surprised it did not happen sooner! Oh yes! All kinds of good things are said about her etc. Yes, George W. in a strong statement condemned that, saying that these criminals want to destroy democracy in Pakistan, or something like it! That place over and over has been named as the most troubling hot spot for Amreica. So, it seems almost like this death will give the present US Adminstration added ammnition to keep this Imperialistic war going, while it is my believe that God himself will hold America responsible for this tragedy! Itelligence? Zero!

Cynda Mesauj

December 31, 2007  1:54pm

Benizar's assassination was tragic, a heineous crime, and sad event for the world. Her attendance at a Christian school was not sufficient to reach her for Christ. Her goals and motivations were commendable, honorable. She might have been positive and winsome, brave and corageous - but she'll not make heaven as a Muslim. THAT is the greatest tr agedy. God who loves Pakistan more than Benazir ever could remains in control. Let us never pass up an opportunity - at a tea or in the market place to promote God's political agenda to reach every Benazir.

Roman Catholic

December 30, 2007  12:01am

Born in Karachi Pakistan as a Goan Roman Catholic I enjoyed all the freedom of being a minority in a Muslim country. We all lived and worked and enjoyed our diverse freedom. We had our religious differences but the recent intolerance of others is another example why any religion whether it be Christianity, Hinduism, Sikh, Judaism or Islam is dangerous for civilization. There have been massive ethnic cleansing throughput the ages because of religious beliefs. Living now in the US I see the Christian Right in the name of Christ ride the Republican party to destruction. The fake preachers in the name of Christ are raping the finances of the seniors and poor while they surround themselves in lap of luxury. Christan education using Christ to attract the weak while they empty their bank accounts gives all Christians a black mark. Many Christians around me refuse to bring these jackals to task only making Jesus cry in shame.

mourner

December 29, 2007  12:01pm

Pakistan is a country of bigots ,male chauvinists and misogynists .I know it because i am a woman and i live there(Benazir was a bad leader or a good one i have no interest in that ,cause had pakistan seen even one great leader we would have been in a better state) BUT i saw the same men ,pakistani men crying like children,beating their heads and mourning for a WOMAN they called their leader ,BB (bb were not only her initials but is a term used for respect for women)I as a pakistani is proud of this brave woman who had more courage than any man ,who had more chrisma than any other leader,who was more loved and respected than any one else who made Pakistani men believe in her power and potentials who had the charm of making pakistan fall in love with her pretty smile and strong words despite all the contraversies .she was no ordinary woman she was a leader , and she gave her life like one .we shall never forget her her courage will give hope to us all we will always love her

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