Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said Thursday he was saddened by the assassination earlier today of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Sen. Corker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Benazir Bhutto in her home in Pakistan on Nov. 30 during a U.S. Congressional delegation trip to Asia.
He said, "I am saddened by this terrible act of violence and extend my most sincere condolences to Benazir Bhutto’s family and the people of Pakistan.
“Former Prime Minister Bhutto's family has suffered a number of tragedies and certainly our thoughts and prayers are with them as they endure this sad loss.
“In spite of this tragedy, the Pakistani leadership should not let this event, perpetrated by enemies to democracy, derail their progress toward holding free and fair elections. While democracy will not come easily to Pakistan, I believe its citizens will stand together to reject extremist ideology and demand freedom and the rule of law.
"Around the world today, there are people who are willing to risk their lives in pursuit of the democracy, freedom and liberties that we enjoy every day. We must do all we can to support the efforts of those who pursue the growth and development of democracy.”
Congressman Zach Wamp released this statement after learning that Pakistani opposition leader Bhutto was killed at an election rally:
"I am deeply saddened and concerned to hear of the death of my friend Benazir Bhutto, who was trying at great personal risk to save her country of Pakistan from the threat of radicalism. As her family and her supporters mourn her loss, my hope is that President Pervez Musharraf will move toward real reform and true democratic government."