Madam, - In her political will Benazir Bhutto passed on the leadership of the PPP to her husband and son. This is not the action of a true democrat and proves yet again that her commitment to democracy was merely the most convenient way for her to return to power. It is not unreasonable to assume that, had she been returned to power, any notion of championing the needs of decent, ordinary, honest, moderate Pakistanis would be forgotten - as it was during her previous terms in office.
Amid the rush to idolise Ms Bhutto, is it unreasonable to insist that her legacy must take account of the rampant corruption she allowed to flourish while in office and which will continue to flourish regardless of who is in power in that failed country? As long as it suits its own domestic politics, the US will again turn a blind eye towards that corruption, and to oppression. Is it unreasonable to ask the Bhutto family where it got the millions it holds in foreign bank accounts and which were used to fund the lavish lifestyle of someone who claimed to be living a hard life in self-imposed exile?
The manner of Ms Bhutto's death is a tragedy for her family. But in the end it will make no difference to democracy in Pakistan because there is not, and never was, actual democracy in Pakistan and because Ms Bhutto, like President Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif, was no democrat. - Yours, etc,
DESMOND FITZGERALD, Canary Wharf, London E14.