Could the Karachi Tragedy Have Been Avoided?

Ms. Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile. Her return was touted as a key step in Pakistan's progress to full democracy. She was widely expected to "share" power with General Musharraf and there can be little doubt about her popularity among the moderate majority in Pakistan.

Her return prompted some wild celebrations throughout Pakistan. Her supporters flooded the streets of Karachi to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader as her motorcade crawled from the airport to her residence. What was thought to be a momentous occasion in Pakistan's history turned out to be anything but. Twin bombs targeted at Bhutto's motorcade ended up killing about 130 people and injuring hundreds more.

Even as the condolences are pouring in from all parts of the world, the blame game has already begun. There can be little doubt that islamic militants are behind this bloodbath. But who exactly are these militants operating for? Taliban? Al Qaeda? or as Ms. Bhutto believes, the loyalists of Col. Zia ul Haq?

Ms. Bhutto said that she wrote to Mr. Musharraf about the death threats she received before her homecoming. But I am yet to hear about what Mr. Musharraf's response was. What security measures did he put in place for Ms. Bhutto's return. BBC's reports indicate that the security was inadequate if not non-existent.

No matter who is directly or indirectly responsible, I strongly believe that this tragedy could have been averted by Ms. Bhutto herself. I cannot fathom why she chose to hold a public rally when she has herself said that she received death threats from as many as four militant organizations just before her arrival in Pakistan. Why did she choose to put her supporters and herself at risk by holding an over-the-top homecoming reception? It is not hard to see why. She simply could not resist basking in the adulation of her supporters. She hoped to leverage the mass hysteria to show that she can mobilize the masses and lead the country effectively. But what was her point? The fact that she is popular was never under dispute. What was she trying to prove and to whom? Some reports also indicate that Ms. Bhutto refused bullet proof shields and even disregarded repeated requests to stay within her bus instead of on the open bus roof. We would have thought she would be smart enough to know that she could have been an easy target for sharp shooters. If something had happened to her, wouldn't her entire objective of "disseminating democracy" in Pakistan have been defeated on her very first move?

Ms. Bhutto has tried to put up a brave face amidst all this. She says that she is a brave leader and that she cannot be scared by fascists. But there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. Between the callous stupidity of Ms. Bhutto and the gross incompetence of Mr. Musharraf's security officials, 130 innocent lives have been lost. Had Ms. Bhutto opted for an inconspicuous return and held off her political exhibitionism, a lot of lives would have been saved.