The Assassination: High-profile murder in Pakistan
The Premise (from Apple Podcasts):
The award-winning inside story. An investigation into the death of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Includes interviews with those accused of her murder.
Series or standalone:
Series
Begin listening to:
Format:
Investigative reporting
Sound/production quality:
Very good
Rating/age suitability:
Adult
Approximate length of episodes:
30 minutes
Curricular ties:
N/A
Similar recommended pods:
N/A
Podcast Librarian’s Review:
This was a pretty bleak pod because it’s evident that Benazir’s assassination was almost guaranteed to happen at some point, especially since there was never enough security around her. Threats against her were known both to her and her staff, but sadly, her death wasn’t prevented. It sounds as though some of her policies were controversial, and she certainly wasn’t liked by all, but the point is that someone that high-profile should be able to feel as safe as possible. The pod features lots of audio from Benazir’s speeches and interviews with those close to her that round out the narrative. Naturally, as a BBC podcast, it is well-produced and well-researched, but I think I was especially invested because I had never heard of Benazir or about her assassination. There was one segment in a later episode that has stuck with me several months after listening—it has to do with the face of a suicide bomber; it’s a gory but interesting fact. The reporting is fairly straightforward, but the reporter had been covering Bhutto and her family for years, so he adds some personal reflections. If you are interested in investigative reporting and/or politics in non-US countries, you’ll likely find yourself engrossed in this pod.
