17 years ago today, Pakistan saw the return of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed after eight long years of exile. The moment she stepped back on Pakistani soil on October 18, 2007, she welcomed with open arms by her supporters in Karachi. It was a massive crowd, with people from all across Pakistan gathering to catch a glimpse of their beloved leader. The excitement was contagious, but unfortunately, this celebration turned into a tragedy.
As Benazir Bhutto’s convoy made its way through the streets of Karachi, surrounded by her loyal security, the journey that should have taken a few minutes stretched for hours due to the overwhelming number of people. When they reached the Karsaz area, two powerful explosions shook the scene, right near her bulletproof truck. These blasts took the lives of 177 people and left over 600 injured. What should’ve a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning.
Despite the devastation, Benazir Bhutto’s supporters remained resilient. The PPP, under her leadership, continued its struggle for democracy, and even after her tragic assassination later that year, her legacy lives on. In the aftermath of the Karsaz attack, the PPP government did its part in supporting the victims’ families, providing financial aid, government jobs, and even free flats for the affected.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, her son and current PPP Chairman, often speaks about the bravery of those who lost their lives that day. He recalls the 180 PPP workers who embraced martyrdom in the attack, pointing out that much of the evidence from that day, and later from December 27, erased. Though arrests made after Benazir’s assassination, the court eventually released the suspects.
Today, in memory of the Karsaz martyrs, PPP will hold a rally at Hattri Bypass Ground in Hyderabad, where Bilawal expected to address the crowd, keeping the spirit of those lost alive.
