Faisal Naseem Chaudhry [advocate, Lahore High Court, Lahore, Pakistan]: "At 6:16 pm this evening, Pakistan lost Benazir Bhutto (BB). Plenty of individuals in this country had severe differences of opinion with her policies and politics, yet one could never imagine such a demise for Pakistan's most popular leader. She was, after all, a leader, and the loss of her life at such a critical juncture is the greatest national tragedy.

It is true that some radical elements had threatened to blow her up in a suicide attack but it also true that similar threats had previously been made to others, including President Pervez Musharraf. But only she was successfully hit. She survived a deadly attack on 18 October but this time the ambush was perfectly designed. Bullets were fired at her followed by a suicide explosion resulting in fatal injuries to the head and neck. Her husband and children have left Dubai and are likely to reach the hospital at 3 in the night.

BB's demise on 27 December with 08 January as the election date will have serious consequences for the country, the political system, Musharraf, the legal framework, and the lawyers' movement.

There is no likelihood of elections taking place on January 08 notwithstanding the fact that George Bush and Pervez Musharraf 'desire' the election process to continue as scheduled. For Pakistan and the Pakistanis, this tragedy is greater than Sep 11 events, and the magnitude of public response has started appearing on TV screens. Violent demonstrations have erupted in virtually every part of the country, so much so that the protesters are not only burning public and private property both movable and immovable, but open gun-firing is also taking place. This is not at all a conducive environment for nationwide elections; forget them.

Musharraf is in serious trouble. The New York Times has already reported that PPP workers at the General Hospital Rawalpindi, where she was declared dead, were shouting 'Musharraf dog'. Everyone will point a figure at him, not only accusing him of having a clandestine role, but also for bringing the menace of suicide bombings into Pakistan. After all this is he and his policies alone which have blessed us with this new hazard. After the October attempted suicide Attack, the 'jammers' provided by the Government were found inoperative and defective, enabling the assailants to hit twice, first with a device planted in a car (which could not work if the jammers were working properly) and the second with a suicide bomb. Even a couple of days ago, the chief security advisors of BB reminded the government that inadequate security measures have been provided to BB. Musharraf will definitely be accused of her death in one way or the other. If he was not responsible for providing security to BB then who else was?

The lawyers' movement in Pakistan shall gain momentum in the wake of BB's death. Not that the lawyers will try to cash in on the situation, but this tragedy further strengthens their allegations of legal, judicial and executive breakdown in Pakistan. What justification will now be available for Musharraf's junta to continue in office? The public will also join the movement, maybe independently, may be in their own way, but the absence of 'public' participation previously complained of by the lawyers would not be absent anymore. The lawyers were not struggling only to have individual judges back to their positions – they also regard Musharraf as the most incompetent ruler in the history of Pakistan, an absolute illegitimate ruler who simply cannot run this country. There can be two views with regard to the deposed judiciary. First that the tragedy would fade away the target of having them back. The second that the objective remains intact. I feel inclined towards the later possibility. If these 'harsh and straight-forward' judges were in their seats, the security arrangements for BB would have been foolproof.

The weaknesses of the legal framework already in shambles will become more obvious and will and will worsen. It would be beyond the capability of any Attorney General or any Military General to handle the situation. Pakistan ultimately is going to pay a very heavy price. The separation movements in parts of provinces of Balochistan and Sindh will strengthen, particularly when three Prime Ministers belonging to the Province of Sindh have been assassinated (Liaqat Ali Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and BB). Separation is not a myth, particularly when Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan in the past. When incompetent people take over the country's helm merely because they wear a uniform, the country suffers as a natural consequence.

Benazir Bhutto's death will not have been in vain. Maybe a dead Benazir will bring us the real democracy that the living Benazir was promising shortly before taking a bullet in her neck. Very tragic."