In many Houston area Pakistani homes Thursday night, there was disbelief and fear for families back home.

“Because, this morning my aunt called me and said the roads were completely blocked,” said Naila Burki. “She was visiting another aunt of mine and she couldn't go home.”

Burki and her family have been closely watching developments in Pakistan, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“What concerns me more than anything is the reaction of the people over there,” said Sid Burki. “How will they react? Because they are already an angry (and) frustrated nation.”

The Burkis are among an estimated 65,000 Pakistan natives who call Houston home. They are part of what is considered an affluent, politically active, business community.

Many of them live in Sugar Land and Southwest Houston. They also shop at the corner of Bissonnet and Kirkwood. Grocery stores and restaurants dole out hard to find food from Pakistan.

At the Royal Restaurant, we found Irfan Ibrahim.

On one hand, he was happy to be planning a wedding dinner, but mourning the loss of a leader on the other.

“I think she was a big asset for us,” said Ibrahim. “She was trying to strive for the democracy in Pakistan.”

More strife and trouble is expected said the Burkis. So, served with the traditional foods of kabob and lentils Thursday night, were thoughts and prayers for a homeland in trouble.