Media coverage misplaced

Benazir Bhutto's murder is indeed a tragedy for her family and supporters. But considering he past, the coverage of the event in the Western median seems not only excessive but also at odds with some of the realities.

Bhutto became Pakistan's prime minister twice. On both occasions, her rule was marred by corruption, cronyism and gross mismanagement. She was convicted by courts in Pakistan and Switzerland, and has been under investigation in Spain. The details of her corruption have been reported in the press around the world.

There are also allegations of her involvement with former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain in irregularities with the United Nations oil-for-food program.  A number of other cases are still under investigation in Pakistan, Poland and France.

It is true that there have been large rallies in different cities in Pakistan. What is not clear is how much of this is in support of Bhutto and how much reflects peoples’ anger and frustration with President Musharraf's unpopular rule.  What is certain is that the end of Bhutto does not mean the end of Pakistan. She was missing for a decade and hardly anyone in the country noticed.

Pakistanis are not different than people in the rest of the world. They were not exactly thrilled at the prospect of being saddled with a ruler they had tested twice before and found wanting. If we do not tolerate a scandal-ridden corrupt leader in Canada, it is reasonable to assume that Pakistanis would not want one either.

She was not a saint by any stretch of the imagination. In the name of journalistic propriety and fairness let us not try to turn her into one.

K. Hussain Zia