FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Hartford, December 27th, 2007; The Pakistani American Community in Connecticut is shocked and extremely saddened by the assassination of the Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Ms Benazir Bhutto today in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Ms. Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber after she had addressed a rally and also had a meeting with President Hamid Karzai reiterating her and her parties resolve to continue and strengthen the efforts of the people of Pakistan in the war on terror.  

The prayers and thoughts are with her husband, children, friends and party workers and also with the people of Pakistan. We are thankful for the kind wishes and prayers expressed by the people of Connecticut for the Pakistani American community and with the people of Pakistan in these challenging times.

This assassination from a Pakistani perspective is equal to the Kennedy assassination for United States. We feel that this tragedy should make it very clear to all the people of Pakistan, the current Musharraf government, the military, and all the political parties that the common enemy for all of us is the extreme element in the society and the evil menace of terrorism. This tragedy should unite us all to work together to fight this challenge and do whatever it takes to win the war on terrorism.

We feel that our continued support for the people of Pakistan and the political process in Pakistan, while working to fight terrorism must continue. The untimely and tragic death of Ms. Bhutto has left her work undone. We must all unite to continue her struggle and this may be the best way of honoring her and her work.