( CNN ) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was nearing the tomb of Pakistan 's founding father when blasts struck near her convoy in Karachi , Pakistan , killing at least 124 people . Fire erupts from a car in front of the vehicle carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto . Mohammed Ali Jinnah , who led Pakistan to independence and championed equal rights , stood for democracy and human rights . That Bhutto chose to visit his grave was an important symbolic move , said Akbar Ahmed , former Pakistani ambassador to the United Kingdom . `` The fact that she went to to Mr. Jinnah 's mausoleum would send a message to Pakistanis ... that Jinnah remains the symbol of all Pakistan , '' he said . `` The fact that she selects Jinnah reemphasizes that she is taking a mainstream position in Pakistan politics . '' She had planned to stop and pray at the tomb , then deliver a speech to her supporters . The streets were packed with people watching her motorcade pass . Bhutto and those with her were not injured in the attacks , and her companions said she reached her family home safely . The windshield of the vehicle she was riding in was smashed by the blasts , CNN 's Dan Rivers said , and a vehicle that was following hers was totally burned out . The scene , he said , was `` absolutely horrendous , '' with blood literally running in streams down the street . Watch how Bhutto escaped uninjured » . The blasts confirmed fears of instability linked to her return , which came after she reached a controversial agreement with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that will allow her to seek re-election as prime minister . Many were bitterly opposed to that deal . `` This is what everyone feared , '' Rivers said . Ahmed said Musharraf , who is waiting to see if the Supreme Court confirm his eligibility as president , will most likely take this opportunity to strengthen his position . `` He will say , ' I told you so , He will tell Washington I told you so . He will tell Benazir Bhutto I told you so . This is not the time for you to come back , stay out let me handle the administration , let me be the strong man , ' `` Ahmed said . Bhutto , 54 , returned to the country Thursday after eight years of self-imposed exile . Earlier this month , Musharraf 's office announced he had signed a `` reconciliation ordinance '' that dropped outstanding corruption charges against Bhutto and a number of other politicians . See a timeline of Bhutto 's life in politics » . Officials had warned Bhutto to delay her return because there were reports that some `` extremist elements were bent on hurting her , because she was seen as coming with an American agenda , '' said Tariq Azim Khan , Pakistan 's information minister . It 's unclear who was behind the blasts . Bhutto 's Pakistan People 's Party considers the incident an assassination attempt against her , officials said . `` The primary suspects , of course , are the al Qaeda-Taliban alliances because they have named her as a primary target . She stands for democracy , she stands for a pro-Western position in Pakistan politics and , of course , her gender , '' Ahmed said . `` At the same time , do n't forget there 's a history of bad blood between her party and the intelligence services . '' Bhutto told CNN just before returning to her homeland that she was aware of the risks and knew some people wished her harm , but `` I 'm prepared to take them . '' She did , however , tell CNN on Wednesday that she wrote Musharraf a letter naming those she feared would make an attempt on her life . Threats against her , she said , were made by `` certain people who have gained a lot through dictatorship . They have presided over the rise of extremism , they have created safe havens in the tribal areas of Pakistan for the Taliban and other militants and they fear my return . '' Bhutto , daughter of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto -- served as prime minister from 1988 until 1990 , when her government was dismissed amid corruption allegations that she denied . Her father , who founded the PPP , was executed in 1979 . Bhutto returned to power in 1993 , but again her government was dismissed amid corruption allegations in 1996 . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Syed Mohsin Naqvi contributed to this report .
At least 124 dead following blasts in Karachi , Pakistan . Benazir Bhutto returned to country earlier in the day after eight years of exile . Bhutto was going to tomb of Jinnah , who led Pakistan to independence . Bhutto may have been targeted for being female and being pro-democracy .