skip to main content

House Approves Resolution Condemning Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

On January 16, the House approved, 413-0, H. Res. 912, a resolution condemning the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, expressing condolences to her family and the families of the other victims of the attacks, and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan.

Sponsored by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

  • on December 27, 2007, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated while departing a peaceful election rally;
  • Ms. Bhutto had returned to Pakistan in October 2007, after eight years of self-imposed exile, for the stated purpose of bringing democracy and the voice of moderation back to Pakistan;
  • Pakistan has struggled historically in its path toward a secure and stable democracy, having been ruled by unelected leaders for 34 out of 60 years of Pakistan’s history;
  • there is an acute need for additional assistance from the United States and other countries to support and promote Pakistan’s economic, social, and political development; and
  • the tragic death of Ms. Bhutto creates even greater uncertainty in an unstable region. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said, “Ms. Bhutto’s death is a great loss to Pakistan. As Secretary [of State Condoleezza] Rice stated, she was a woman of great courage with an impressive commitment to democracy and to the future of Pakistan itself…President Bush has emphasized [that] the perpetrators of this terrible crime must be brought to justice. In this regard, the Congress joins with the administration in welcoming the government of Pakistan’s decision to accept British assistance to the investigation into Ms. Bhutto’s death. We all hope that their actions to ensure a credible and transparent investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Bhutto’s death will help to restore calm, contribute to the conditions needed for a free and fair election to take place, and bring the perpetrators of her death to justice.”

    Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said, “Benazir Bhutto, about 15 years ago, came to this chamber of Congress, one of the first women ever to address a joint session of Congress. Only in her thirties, I believe, at the time, she inspired us, she filled us with hope, and the confidence [that] she projected gave us the confidence that democracy could come to Pakistan. That was a while ago, and much has transpired since then. She had been in and out and in again as prime minister. And, as you know, when she returned to Pakistan, it was to participate in an election to take Pakistan back down the path to democracy…She was an advocate for reconciliation between Islamic and non-Islamic societies, and outlined how that goal could be achieved. She not only had a vision, she had a plan on how it would be done. The strength of her message of hope has underscored how much we lost in her tragic death.”