[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E53]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONDEMNING ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR 
BHUTTO AND REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT OF UNITED STATES TO ASSIST PEOPLE OF 
                                PAKISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2008

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I support H. Res. 912, a 
resolution condemning the assassination of former Pakistani Prime 
Minister Benazir Bhutto and reaffirming the commitment of the United 
States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity 
and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.
  The 27th of December will be remembered as a mournful day for all of 
the people of Pakistan and people of goodwill the world over. My 
deepest sympathies and condolences are with them. As a member of the 
United States Congress' Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I am deeply 
saddened by this dastardly effort to circumvent the democratic process 
which has claimed the life of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir 
Bhutto.
  The assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto is viewed by many 
as an attempt to thwart Pakistan's efforts to help restore stability 
and democracy. Regrettably, since 2001, the security situation in 
Pakistan has grown increasingly unstable. There have been at least six 
assassination attempts against President Pervez Musharraf over the past 
several years.
  Additionally, former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto was the target 
of numerous threats and a previous assassination attempt. In route to a 
rally in Karachi on October 18, 2007, two explosions occurred shortly 
after Bhutto left Jinnah International Airport. She was not injured, 
but the explosions, later found to be a suicide-bomb attack, killed 136 
people and injured at least 450. The dead included at least 50 of the 
security guards from her Pakistan Peoples Party.
  Mrs. Bhutto represented the hopes and aspirations of numerous 
Pakistanis who wished to turn the page on instability and extremism. 
Mrs. Bhutto sought to change Pakistan with a determination that should 
have been challenged with ballots, not bullets and bombs.
  The Pakistani government's decision to request that the United 
Kingdom's Scotland Yard Counter Terrorism Command provide support and 
assistance in the investigation into the murder of Benazir Bhutto will 
not be enough if the Pakistani people want more. It is exceedingly 
important that the people of Pakistan believe that a credible 
transparent investigation is conducted and that all lawful efforts are 
pursued to bring the perpetrators of the atrocious crime to justice. 
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to establish a ``Truth 
Commission'' of a capable, competent, and credible cross section of 
Pakistanis. Additionally, it is of the greatest importance that 
elections be conducted in a fair, transparent and democratic manner 
after considered input about the process from political parties.
  The future of Pakistan will effect our global security. Pro-Taliban 
militants and their al-Qaeda allies must not find refuge. Homicidal 
extremists pose a threat to Pakistan and its neighbors and must not be 
allowed to offset the winds of democratic change. We in the United 
States can offer support to Pakistan conditioned on free and fair 
elections along with a credible transparent investigation.
  The noble cause of perfecting the democratization of Pakistan is in 
the hands of the people of Pakistan. Although international partners 
can assist in this effort, the future of Pakistan must be hammered out 
by the people of Pakistan.
  Although, this tragic event may call into question the future of 
democracy in Pakistan, people of goodwill in Pakistan, regardless of 
political persuasion, must continue the movement to enhance democratic 
institutions across their nation knowing that freedom, justice, and 
democracy are difficult to achieve.

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