Pakistanis now fear that anyone who speaks out will be silenced

Reid

Christina Lamb's article is shallow, sloganeering and little more than a propaganda piece. Noone in Pakistan's history or currently has a problem with speaking up - however, those who wish to further UK and British interests in the country, depriving it of its independence and making it a lackey state, should fear a backlash. History is no longer the same where people allowed themselves to be colonized by sell-out self-interested leaders. The 20 or so medieval feudal families like Benazir's who receive Western patronage are slowly being renegated to the dustbin of history - their only support comes from the poor slave like peasants in their regions that have little other choice. Pakistan is in a political flux (like the whole Muslim world) where most people believe the country's potential future is in a fusion of Islam and politics, not in reliving its failed past of attempting to secularise the two. The War on Terror is a war to prevent the Muslim people in trying to determine their destiny - it appears difficult for ex-colonial powers to shake their colonialist tendencies.

Jav

Mrs Bhutto and her ilk have run up multi-billion dollar fortunes since coming to power - she got the easy way out. She should be tried for her crimes. Pakistan needs new leadership that reflects what its people want (modern progressive Sharia) - not what minority elites what nor what the US or Britain think is good for it.

Sumant Rawat

Its too bad that Benazir could not accomplish what is most needed in Pakistan and what she truly represented ..an educated confident Muslim woman respectful of Tradition.

Jay Wilson

Christina Lamb is a disgrace to your magazine. Like so many Western Journalists she has been taken in/over by the Bhuttos. Benazir in power did nothing for women, or minorities, or to halt the growth to power of the armed extremist militias, or the Paki and Afghan jihadis supported in Kashmir. Read William Dalrymple on this subject and stop employing this journalistic rodent in lamb's clothing.

Anne Cooper

It is a archaic system which chooses its leaders on the basis of religion, parentage or family connections. Only the democratic process can offer people of real ability, who appeal by definition to the majority. A primitive tribal system can only ever produce primitive tribal consequences.

Sapna Mummunka

Although i had never been much of a Benazir supporter, her assassination did come as a blow. She certainly did promise much more than she actually did. however it is important to dispell your misguided statements. At a remembrance i attended in Lahore this January, it came as a surprise to hear Asma Jahangir (a noted human rights activist, who at many an occassion had criticised BB's several actions during her tenure) admit that two of the first things BB did when coming to power in 1988 was to forbid the public whipping of women as was common in those days and had women who had been wrongfuly imprisoned, realeased. And as for empty criticisms of Christina Lamb, that i find to be based on nothing but utter ignorance, having been familiar with her writing, i can personally attest to the fact that she remained to be unbiased in her reporting in regards to BB despite their close ties, having criticised her for not doing enough for the women of Pakistan and bringing up the corruption charges at several occassions. If anything, i would commend Christina Lamb for achieving an impartial stance, without letting personal ties cloud her judgement. The ability to remain objective is by far the most daunting task for a journalist and she has managed to pull it off so good for her!