Bhutto was killed yesterday when gunmen opened fire at her vehicle just before a suicide bomber blew himself up at an election rally addressed by her in Rawalpindi, killing more than 20 people and injuring several others.
Leading newspapers pointed out that the death of the 54-year-old charismatic opposition Pakistan People's Party leader would not only change the politics of the Islamic nation but also demoralise all progressive elements and weaken the federation with general elections slated for next month.
Stating that the impact of Bhutto's assassination is going be immense on the national psyche, which will be apparent in the weeks to come, The News said her death "throws the entire political edifice, the painfully excruciating march of the country towards a democratic polity, the carefully crafted plan for a peaceful transfer of power to an elected leadership up into turbulent smoke and bloody dust."
"How could this have been the third phase of Pervez Musharraf's transition to democracy? How can this be democracy in which a twice-Prime Minister of the country is killed during a peaceful electoral campaign in a garrison town?" the daily questioned.
The newspaper also said that Bhutto was possibly right in pointing fingers at the retired elements in the state intelligence agencies, those who had themselves turned into religious fanatics or supporters of violent extremism, saying that they were after her because she supported a moderate and liberal Pakistan.
