By IANS
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday strongly condemned the “reprehensible” assassination of Benazir Bhutto saying that the former Pakistan prime minister’s “unrealised potential has been brutally cut short”.
Pointing out that the people of Pakistan have lost a “popular and charismatic leader at a critical juncture”, Gandhi said: “This reprehensible act deserves to be strongly condemned by all those who believe in freedom of expression and democratic values.
“Her assassination is a painful reminder of the grave threat posed by the forces of violence and terror to the civilized world,” the Congress chief said.
Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was killed in an apparent suicide attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi Thursday evening.
“My heart goes out to her loving children and family, her friends, and followers in their moment of grief,” Gandhi said in a message.
“On behalf of the Indian National Congress and my own behalf I convey my deep-felt condolences to her family and the people of Pakistan and wish them all strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” she said.
Sonia Gandhi’s husband and former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi also was assassinated by a suicide bomber during an election campaign. He was killed on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbedur, Tamil Nadu.