Here is a statement by Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Thursday:

When former [prime minister] of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto returned to her country a few months ago after a long exile, it was acknowledged that she was exposing herself to great danger because of the volatile political situation in her country.

Nevertheless, her assassination [Thursday] has left much of the world in a state of shock and grave concern for the future of Pakistan, the region and the world.

Mrs. Bhutto's death is also a great tragedy for a family that has already suffered much from political violence. It will be recalled that her father, a former president of Pakistan, was overthrown in a coup detat and executed.

So on behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas I should like to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Mrs. Bhutto, especially her two daughters and her husband.

We have been watching anxiously as the people of Pakistan struggle for the return of democracy and the rule of law to their land. Indeed, this was one of the issues that exercised the minds of Commonwealth Heads at our recent conference in Uganda.

Pakistan is strategically positioned in the continuing struggle with religious extremists whose principal weapon is terrorism, and what happens there is bound to have strong repercussions not only in that region but around the world.

It is our hope and prayer that Pakistan will be able quickly to move away from this troubling period and advance toward democracy and the rule of law.

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