RAWALPINDI: PPP’s Rawalpindi chapter observed a black day on Wednesday to condemn the coup against former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government on July 5, 1977 conducted by Gen Ziaul Haq.

The event hosted at the party’s offices in Rawalpindi was attended by PPP City President Babar Jadoon, Nasir Mir, Israr Abbasi, Sohail Ishtiaq, Banaras Chaudhry and other party workers.

Speaking at the event, Mr Jadoon said Bhutto was a great leader and worked for the betterment of the people of the country. He said the PPP leader was founder of the ‘Islamic Nuclear Bomb’ and that he had united Muslims.

Military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq led a coup against PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government on July 5, 1977

Mr Jadoon said Bhutto’s government was toppled by the military dictator to stop the democratic process in the country and that Zia was afraid of Bhutto’s popularity. Dictatorships are a menace and feed terrorism and extremism, he said.

Mr Jadoon added that PPP was committed to protect democracy in the country and to the supremacy of parliament.

The first woman prime minister of a Muslim country, Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the betterment of the people and wanted to make Pakistan a developed and more progressive country, he said, adding that her husband, Asif Ali Zardari was carrying forward the mission of Benazir and her father. He said Mr Zardari was also striving to create harmony and tolerance in society.

Party workers later took out a rally from the PPP offices to Liaquat Bagh where former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed on Dec 27, 2007.

They wore black bands and chanted slogans against dictatorship and in favour of democracy. They lay floral wreaths in front of a picture of their slain leader at the spot where she was assassinated.

PPP workers in Chaklala Cantt also observed the day as black day on the directions of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

They gathered at Peshawar Road, paid tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and spoke against military dictator Ziaul Haq. They also wore black bands on their arms.

The ceremony was chaired by senior PPP leader Malik Mohammad Siddique and local leader Gulzar Awan. Other prominent PPP leaders present at the event included Gul Bahader Khan, Malik Javed Iqbal, Shakeel Awan, Khalid Jiala, Baji Khurshid and others.

Speakers at the event said July 5, 1977 will be considered a black day in history and that even today followers of Ziaul Haq are helping destroy national institutions and damaging the democratic process. They said the JIT will soon be announcing a judgement and expecting an unfavourable outcome, PML-N leaders and workers have already started criticising courts, the JIT, political parties and state institutions.

PPP workers said they trust their leaders and asked local leaders to address their problems.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2017