PESHAWAR: Activists of Pakistan Peoples Party on Friday held a protest demonstration in connection with July 5, 1977 and set an effigy of late Gen Ziaul Haq on fire for toppling the elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first elected prime minister of the country.

The protesters were led by party’s former provincial president Syed Zahir Ali Shah while several senior leaders of Peshawar, including Senator Rubeena Khalid, Zulfiqar Afghani and Saeed Ahmed, were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Zahir Shah said that the military dictator had deprived the nation of an elected setup for his lust for powers.

He said that ZAB was the first

elected prime minister who served the country with national zeal and enabled the poor people to raise voice for their rights.

He warned that some remnants of Ziaul Haq were still out to suppress the voice of the poor, but PPP would not let anyone do so.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2016