Pakistan, Oct. 18 -- Some dates in a country's political history are more than entries on a calendar. They become symbols of an era, a struggle, an ideology, and the countless sacrifices preserved forever in a nation's collective memory. 18 October 2007 is one such date in Pakistan's history. After a long period in exile, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed returned to Pakistan. A vast sea of people poured onto Karachi's streets to welcome their leader, and hopes associated with the democratic process took on renewed force. Late that night, two explosions targeted her welcome procession near Karsaz, turning a historic gathering filled with joy into a national tragedy.

According to the report of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry, offic...