So turbulent career of "fragrant daughter of the East" came to the tragic, abrupt, but not totally unexpected end.

Pakistan is experiencing the most dangerous phase of its 60-year old history and there are many factors behind its current pathetic plight, from Bush's war on terror against Al Qaeda and Taleban, often ineffective and allegedly corrupt civil administration, frequent military coups and domination of army and intelligence establishment in domestic politics and economy, the policy of support and training of radical Islamist organisations to meet certain external policy objectives in Afghanistan and India etc.

What happens next? Of course all observers are waiting what will be the response to assasination from her party supporters and Pakistani public in general (evening riots in Lahore and Karachi already claimed 13 lives), and how successfully Musharraf handles the security situation. But to some extent the untimely demise of Bhutto may clear the dense fog of Pakistani politics as she was the most unpredictable factor in Pakistani politics. Nobody knew for sure what she stood for and what will be her actions in case of rigging elections. Of course she made many right noises about democracy, the fight against military dictatorships retaining her populist platform, but she was careful enough not to hurt personal interests (be it the question of deposed judges, the pact with Musharraf or Americans' war on terror) and turning her PPP party into Bhutto family's fiefdom (one Pak journalist joked she would prefer to have her Persian cat on the throne than to try with puppet as Sonia Gandhi did in India). Her party is strong in Sindh, in the south and may not disintegrate immediately and still will try to represent Sindhi aspirations but in any case considerably weakened and can be discounted as contender for power in Islamabad.

Mahatma Gandhi assasination by Hindu fanatic Nathuram Godse helped to calm things in aftermath of Partition, but if Benazir sacrificed herself on the altar of Pakistan's democracy unfortunately we cannot expect the same effect as anti-democratic forces both militants and Musharraf's camp are stronger than ever. The best imagined outcome may be if Nawaz Sharif succeed in bringing all democratic forces together and oust deeply unpopular dictatorship starting the painful process of purges in the military and intelligence services to get rid of militants backers (what Musharraf could not afford to do) and bringing about much-needed changes in anti-insurgency strategy, even to the extent of establishing truly federal set-up in Pakistan. But such scenario may well remain distant dream. Unfortunately Sharif cannot expect to come to power by peaceful elections (as they will be rigged by Musharraf), he needs at least backing of some elements in the army to oust Mush. Other and more possible as of now scenarios hold no surprises - either Musharraf will continue or he will be replaced by another general.