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Statement on the Death of Benazir Bhutto
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Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in the aftermath of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto:
“Benazir Bhutto was an inspiration and a symbol of democratic hope and courage for a country in the midst of deep political strife. Her assassination this morning is a deep tragedy, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family as well as the families of other victims in this morning’s attack. I am hopeful that her leadership and the achievements she was able to attain as a woman will continue to encourage and inspire people around the world.
“This tragic event deals a serious blow to the political atmosphere within Pakistan, with elections just around the corner. It is my hope that despite this setback, the upcoming elections will be conducted fairly and legitimately.
“It is critical that we ensure that the Pakistani government is receiving proper guidance on how to move forward from this point, particularly with regard to conserving the stable, democratically led government that is key to succeeding in the fight against terrorism. Additionally, I encourage the Bush Administration to conduct better oversight of our continued financial assistance to Pakistan during this tumultuous time to achieve the intended results of better education, health, and security systems for the country.”
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