Moments before Benazir Bhutto was assassinated today, she poignantly spoke of how her father was executed, and of the deaths of other members of her family. Now she too has become a victim.

With her kiilling Pakistan has been plunged into political instability at a moment when Mrs Bhutto was probably the most powerful political figure in the country.

The latest we have heard is that she was shot as she got into her car at the end of her political rally, hit in the neck and chest by attackers who were on a motorbike, and who then detonated explosives. She apparently died of her wounds as she arrived at hospital.

The immediate reaction in Pakistan to the killing is one of anger against the government – anger from her own political party that the intelligence agencies failed to protect her, and anger from the ordinary people who supported her, who believe that the Government may even have had a hand in her death.

Q&A: the murder of Benazir Bhutto

Times South Asia Correspondent asks who had most to gain from killing the Pakistan People's Party leader

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Background

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Violence has already erupted in various parts of the country, particularly in Karachi and the province of Sind, which was her home. There has been gunfire in many places. The roads are blocked and several vehicles have been set on fire by angry crowds.

Ms Bhutto's supporters among the ordinary people are blaming President Musharraf. They say that the intelligence agencies could have been involved in the killing in a bid to eliminate her from the political scene as a dangerous rival.

Ms Bhutto had herself accused the intelligence agencies in the past of conspiring with the Islamic militants who have repeatedly threatened to kill her.

Her party is blaming the government for failing to protect her. They say that she was a target from the moment she arrived in Pakistan, that the Government had been given warning that she was a target, but yet she was allowed to go ahead with her rally today, when last month they had placed her under house arrest to prevent her from holding a rally in exactly the same place where today's killing occurred.

It is too early to say where this is going to lead. At this stage I do not think that civil war is likely.

One thing is certain – this has completely changed the political landscape of Pakistan politics. We will see a growing anti-Musharraf, anti-Government sentiment developing in the country.

Mr Musharraf has yet to react to the killing. If the situation worsens I would not be surprised to see the state of emergency, that was lifted on December 12, reimposed on Pakistan.

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