12-30-2007, 01:11 AM
I am Pakistani and infact I lived in Pakistan while she was Primeminister.
She was very unpopular in Pakistan because of corruption and ineptness. Her Government was dismissed by the then President Farooq Leghari, I was about 10 years old. All I remember was that everyone hated her and I mean everyone. Everyone was glad that she was gone and noone wanted her back. I dont think she was very popular even during just before her death in Pakistan.
THe question about the crowds at her demonstration and funeral is a good question. I think she has some support but very little. With an absolutely massive population 6th largest in the world. Hence any rally for anyone with even a tiny amount of support wil seem huge (and the media will always sensationalise numbers) In order to understand why Benazir even had some support you have to understand a few things about pakistani politics.
1. The literacy rate of Pakistan is less than 50%. Imagine that over half of the people cannot read or write. How easy do you think it is to fool these people? It is very easy. Even amongst them Bhutto was extremely unpopular. But amongst a HUGE population of 160 million + finding 200,000 supporters for a rally in Karachi is not difficult.
2. She belongs to a party which has historical backgrounds. her father is a legend to many people in Pakistan and the party he formed PPP has historically always been popular alongside Muslim League. It has incredible funding for campaigning and due to a deficiency of other popular leaders in Pakistan Benazir wins many supporters just by default.
3. Pervez Musharraf is hated by almost the whole nation after what happened in Lal masjid, the Chief Justice, GEO TV and emergency state delaration. As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Benazir and PPP had many supporters at demos simply because they didn't like Musharraf.
4. Many people support Benazir due to vested interest. When there wa talk of her returning from exile and power sharing with Musharraf she looked very likely to become Primeminmister again. This makes many people who stand to gain support her.
5. Pakistani people love to demonstrate even if they dont agree 100% with what they are demonstrating for. As evidenced by numerous instances e.g. Rushdie Knighthood, Danish Cartoons, Chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary sacking etc etc millions of people will take to the street, its a Pakistani thing. Pakistan no matter how bad has always been a relatively free country for expression.