Non-governmental Organizations
- Al-Qaeda – Spokesman Mustafa Abu al-Yazid was quoted by the Philippine media as saying that "we terminated the most precious American asset who vowed to defeat the mujahideen."
- However, a spokesman for Al-Qaeda-linked Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader Baitullah Mehsud was quoted the following day as saying: "I strongly deny it. Tribal people have their own customs. We don't strike women."
- Amnesty International – Asian Program Director Catherine Baber said: "It is shocking to see someone’s life cut short in such a brutal way. Attacks such as these can never be justified. They violate international law and the rules of democratic behavior. We know that the government of President Musharraf will find itself under enormous pressure to go after the culprits and keep the country calm and stable, but Amnesty International calls on President Musharraf – and on the security forces – to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law. The killing of Benazir Bhutto must not be allowed to become a setback to civilian governance or indeed lead to a further crackdown on civil liberties." AI United States Government Relations Director Alex Arriaga said: "Pakistan is at a dangerous crossroads. If it cannot rely on an independent judiciary, some of the most dangerous aspects of martial law will become enshrined in its legal and political system, leaving the people’s human rights in the balance. The United States government must press its ally, which has used the 'War on Terror' to justify its actions, and put an end to this slippery slope. Without these steps, the Bush administration will further acquiesce that fundamental rights can be denied, and those who oppose Musharraf are likely to face intimidation – or even death."
- Human Rights Watch – A statement was calling the assassination a "tragic event with serious implications for Pakistan's transition to democracy" and stating that "political violence of this nature has claimed far too many innocent lives in Pakistan and it must stop. Benazir Bhutto was a democrat who believed in the supremacy of constitutional rule and throughout her career, sought power through the ballot box. Today, she died campaigning for votes and calling for a free election." HRW South Asia researcher, speaking for the organization, called on the Pakistani government to "undertake an independent and transparent investigation into Bhutto’s assassination and fully cooperate with such an investigation."
Read more about this topic: International Reaction To The Assassination Of Benazir Bhutto