RAWALPINDI, July 6: The women wing of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has called for full restoration of democratic institutions and an end to military intervention in the political system.

These demands were presented by the women members of the People Labour Bureau, Punjab and Bhutto Di Jogi, while observing Black Day against the July 6, 1977 move of Gen Ziaul Haq to oust the democratic government of the prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

The women members had fastened black ribbons around their arms and held banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Legal Framework Order (LFO) and Gen Musharraf’s role as president.

Speaking to the participants, the general-secretary of PPP women wing, Rukhsana Bashir, said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto opted to be hanged by a military general than be ruled by him.

She said Mr Bhutto was the leader of the masses, and the establishment was not comfortable with the involvement of common people in politics. Mr Bhutto’s government was, therefore, toppled and people were deprived of a ‘great leader’ by a military general — a representative of establishment and upper class.

Ms Bashir said Mr Bhutto had made 1973 Constitution for the country and implemented it as well. She said without the Constitution no democracy could be established in any country of the world. But, unfortunately, the military generals, first Ziaul Haq and then Pervez Musharraf, undermined the sanctity of the Constitution.

She said it was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who had initiated the idea of establishing a nuclear plant in the country.

She warned President Musharraf against striking a deal on the nuclear programme and recognizing an Israeli state in the Middle East. She said it was a shame for the country that most of the political figures, including Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, were living in exile while military generals were talking about restoration of the so-called democracy in the country.

Some Pakistan People’s Party activists including Syed Ghulam Ali Shah, Master Bashir Ahmed, Banaras Chaudhry, Zaheer Abbasi and Rafique Baig, praised the leadership of late Bhutto and criticized the continuous military intervention in politics.