Benazir Bhutto visited a family whose son was killed in the suicide blasts that targeted the former Pakistan premier’s homecoming, as she kept up a tightly secured trip on Sunday to her ancestral home.
Bhutto made a jubilant return to her family district in rural southern Pakistan on Saturday, in her first trip outside of Karachi since the October 18 bombings in the city that ripped through her homecoming parade.
Thousands of supporters cheered Bhutto as she flew into Sukkur city from Karachi before she was driven to Larkana district, where crowds danced and waved flags as she paid her respects at the Bhutto family tomb.
The mood was more sombre on Sunday as Bhutto called on the bereaved family in their two-room mud house and offered prayers before moving on to the home of a worker of her Pakistan People’s Party who was injured in the blasts, which killed 139 people.
“I have come to condole the martyrdom of a brave and innocent boy of 22 years who lost his life in the movement to save democracy,” Bhutto wrote in a condolence book on the veranda of the family’s house.
“He did not bow his head before dictatorship or terrorism. His sacrifices shall not be in vain,” she wrote, an Agence France-Presse correspondent witnessed.
Hundreds of people climbed on to rooftops and gathered in lanes of the impoverished neighbourhood in Larkana town to try to catch a glimpse of Bhutto, while others chanted “Jiye Bhutto [Long live Bhutto].”
Security was once again tight amid ongoing fears for her safety, with large numbers of private guards and paramilitary officers, armed with machine guns, surrounding the houses and keeping supporters at bay.
Bhutto is expected to call on party supporters in the area before meeting party leaders at her residence in nearby Naudero, her aides said.
She has vowed to stay in Pakistan despite the bombings and lead the party in general elections, which are seen as a key step in the nation’s return to democracy after eights years of military rule by President Pervez Musharraf.
The attacks on her homecoming procession in Karachi happened just hours after Bhutto set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time since 1999 and ruined her planned triumphant return to contest the polls set for January.
Bhutto was granted an amnesty by Musharraf on corruption charges earlier this month, paving the way for her return to Pakistan and a possible power-sharing pact with the general, who seized power in a 1999 coup.
The United States and Britain have been quietly pushing the pact as the best chance of fighting Islamic extremism gathering force in Pakistan, and for political stability in the nation of 160-million people.
Bhutto expressed frustration late on Saturday at the extent of the security, which is unlikely to reduce in the run-up to the elections.
“What sort of politics is this where political parties cannot hold rallies? I want to be among my people but because of the security threat I cannot hold rallies,” Bhutto told reporters.
Bhutto also late on Saturday vowed to continue to fight extremism, which she said was derailing the Islamic nation’s return to democracy.
“I am very happy to be back among my own people. You have stood by me in good or bad times,” she told about 500 supporters gathered outside her house.
“It is encouraging for me and gives me strength to continue my mission for democracy and a stable Pakistan, free of terrorism, free of militancy and free of extremism,” she said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, with Bhutto alleging a link to rogue elements in the establishment and a pro-Taliban militant denying his involvement. — AFP