QUETTA, July 5: The Balochistan chapter of the Pakistan People’s Party observed black day on Saturday to condemn the overthrow of the government of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by Gen Ziaul Haq in a coup on July 5, 1977.

Party activists vowed to continue the struggle for strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

Provincial ministers Mir Sadiq Umrani, Mir Imdad Jatak and Ismail Gujar and party’s deputy secretary-general Sadaullah Shah addressed a meeting held at the Sarawan house to mark the day.

Party’s vice-president Jamal Jogezai, general secretary Bismillah Khan Kakar and Hadayatulah Pirzada also spoke on the issue at a seminar held at Idara-i-Saqafat.

Speakers said the PPP leadership had never compromised on the democratic rights of people and always struggled against dictatorship.

Anti-democratic forces hatched conspiracies against the elected government of Benezir Bhutto, they said, adding that despite hurdles created by President Pervez Musharraf’s administration, the PPP emerged as the largest single party in the National Assembly in the February 18 elections.

They said the PPP’s victory had proved that the party enjoyed support of the masses in all the provinces. People trusted PPP because it rendered great sacrifices for the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights and autonomy of federating units.

They blamed the previous government for current problems in the country and said the PPP-led coalition government was striving to resolve the issues through reconciliation.