You are correct. She knew it for a certainty. They had already tried when she first came back and they killed over 170 people. She knew it would happen, and she told people if it did, Musharraf would be behind it.

I have had people threaten me before on the internet and say they were going to kill me or gut me. I dared them to come to my house and posted my home address. As I suspected, they were all talk.

But in her case, she knew it was real. I don't think I'd be as gutsy as she was. She really loved her country and whether or not you agree with her politics, she stood up to a dictator and did what she thought was best for her people even though she knew it would most likely cost her life.

She's a hero in my book. I only hope the outrage for this gets the people to overthrow Musharraf's military controlled government. That's a scary thought considering nukes are involved, but I'd trust the Bhutto loving moderates of Pakistan more than I trust Musharraf.

She didn't just know the threats against her were real. She also had personal experience of political violence, with her father executed and two of her brothers assassinated.

I admired her. Despite the cloud of corruption she was the best chance of democracy that Pakistan had and she was brave and deeply committed to her country. Despite, even, the feudal nature of her dynasty (continued now by the selection of her husband and son as co-chairs of the party) she was a great woman and is a great loss.

I don't buy that for one minute. She said so on numerous interviews that were re-aired within the days after her death.

Re-read what Dana wrote and emphasis the "just".

I stand corrected. I read it wrong.

I have strong doubts about a confession extracted from a 15 year old boy.
I have a friend from Pakistan who, despite being well connected, was once arrested for traffic offenses. They took him down to the cells and then, just as a demonstration, grabbed an old prisoner at random and gave him five huge floggings over the buttocks with a heavy leather strap.
My friend got the message, called his family and had them come up with the substantial "fine".
How long is a fifteen year old lad going to withstand that sort of interrogation?


Meh, who actually pulled the trigger is a minor matter. Who armed and sent them? Probably some Islamic extremists, maybe even the ones who are being blamed. But who failed to provide the security that was so obviously needed? Musharraf. I'm smelling a tacit conspiracy where two opposites silently cooperate to eliminate a third mutual foe.

The more I read about it, the more I think she martyred herself.

Paki Police ~ You're guilty and must pay a fine.
Pussy ~ I'm well connected.
Paki Police ~ Oh yeah, just watch us spank this other guy.
Pussy ~ OMG, I'll pay, I'll pay, don't spank anyone else.

A 15 year old mountain guerrilla, with three to five years experience, isn't worried about getting spanked.

The flogging - not spanking - was just a demonstration. A warm up, if you like. Use your imagination for rounds two, three and seventeen...
And I guess his training, such as it was, did not include interrogation resistance. More running about with a gun and shouting "Allah Akbar" and stuff. Just a guess.

Odds are heavy that this kid was/is just a pawn. The real questions asked much earlier in this thread remain.

Wait a minute - I thought she killed herself bumping her head on the roof of the car. What happened to that ridiculous explanation?

The video footage used by police to identify the shooters proved that she was shot before her head bumped anywhere.

I agree. The bomb was a cover up, either by the shooter or by someone sent along to make sure that no one would be around to talk.

Srsly, did the gov't ever retract their stupid claim? thats what I was referring to - we all know and saw what really happened.

As far as I know they are sticking to their story. Idiots.