Publication

This briefing paper analyzes the implications of the assassination of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, calling for a return to full-fledged democracy. It identifies the consequences of the murder, looks at the potential of an investigation to reduce resulting tensions and discusses the outlook for the postponed parliamentary elections of 18 February 2008. Subsequently, the paper presents a scenario for the time after President Musharraf and argues that the US should reconsider its support for the president-general's authoritarian rule and recognize that democracy has the best chance of providing stability.