Haider Nizamani's article on the carnage in Karachi during Bhutto's political carnival, our learnings and its implications, was first published in The Dawn. This site reproduces the text.

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Thirteen hours into the carnival-like atmosphere at the rally celebrating Benazir Bhutto's homecoming, the enthusiastic teeming masses were enjoying themselves.

And then amid the noise of the firecrackers and the beat of the dhol, violence hit with deadly precision killing almost 150 people. Who did this and why? What impact will this have on the future of Pakistani politics?

We may never know the identity of those behind the October 18/19 blasts. More likely it is the handiwork of one of the assorted militant outfits who use Pakistan as a safe haven, often under the alleged protection of people in government.

This is the outcome of two policies, one adopted in the early 1980s and the other after 9/11. General Zia teamed up with the Americans in their bid to turn Afghanistan into the Soviet Union's Vietnam.

Pakistanis were not told that turning the country into a proxy battlefield between the two superpowers would entail more than just receiving F-16 aircraft. It meant opening the door for all types of militants from different parts of the world.

Fast forward the clock to October 2001 and Pakistan was once again lined up with the United States in the latter's war on terror?. Ironically, the Musharraf regime is hunting down people who are the children of the Reagan-Zia jihad.

As a result of the Zia and Musharraf policies, the country has become a turf for vicious wars fought over matters that are not solely Pakistan's concern.

Ms Bhutto has pledged to fight hand-in-hand with Musharraf the war blessed by Bush. She was warned and then almost killed on Oct 19 mainly because of her stance over the US-led ?war on terror? that the jihadi guests based in Pakistan find unacceptable enough to sanction her assassination.

Innocent and unsuspecting Pakistanis, whose lives were snuffed out in Karachi, were the latest victims of the crossfire between Bush and Bin Laden.

What point does the Oct 19 carnage prove? Both Ms Bhutto and her sworn enemies have made their point quite convincingly. Ms Bhutto demonstrated that she is the only politician in the country on whose call millions still voluntarily turn up. Her enemies proved she is not safe and that they can breach the security cordon.

Ms Bhutto's physical movement in Pakistan would be more restricted now. This would adversely affect her ability to reach out to the masses. This may turn out to be a big handicap for the PPP if elections take place as promised.

What about the planners of the attack? Concern for innocent lives is not high on their agenda. This means that if Ms Bhutto continues her mass contact campaign, more bloodshed can?t be ruled out. Pakistanis are paying with blood for the choices their rulers made to join American wars.

- By Haider K. Nizamani

hnizamani@hotmail.com