Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz today sent the following message to President Pervez Musharraf, in connection with the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto:

President Pervez Musharraf
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Islamabad

Dear Mr. President,

Peace be upon you. We learned with great sorrow and regret of the martyrdom of our Righteous Sister Benazir Bhutto at the hands of treachery and betrayal. As we express to Your Excellency our sincerest condolences, we ask that you convey our regret to all members of her family.

Through Your Excellency, we address an appeal to the brotherly people of Pakistan in which we, along with the Saudi people, condemn this heinous crime committed by evil killers who have distanced themselves from Islam, values, and morality, and have turned themselves into monsters shedding innocent blood and trying to impose the law of jungle. We are confident - God willing - that the brotherly Muslim people of Pakistan will adhere to the faith and to patience in the wake of this tragedy. They are believers who accept God’s fate.

Also, we are confident that, despite the heinousness of this crime, it will not discourage the resolve of our sincere loyal sons and brothers of Pakistan. The noble people of Pakistan will not allow anyone to infringe on their unity, security, and stability, and they shall, with their strong will, overcome any opportunity that might be exploited by the enemies of Pakistan and the Islamic nation. This crime will not bring criminals nearer to their evil and wicked goals.

We pray to Almighty God to bestow the deceased martyr with forgiveness and mercy and to allow her to reside in paradise and to bestow condolences and patience upon her family and relatives. We also pray that Almighty God bestow dear Pakistan and its noble people with pride, power, and triumph over the gangs of evil and darkness.

In conclusion, we can only say what the patient believers say “To God we belong and to Him we return.”

Your brother,

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
18/12/1428 H
27/12/2007 G