HYDERABAD, Oct 12: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) activists observed a black day in different parts of Sindh on Sunday to mark the 12 anniversary of the overthrow of the party’s elected government by General Pervez Musharraf.

They took out a rally in Latifabad to condemn the toppling of their party’s government by army generals on October 12, 1999.

They carried placards and banners inscribed with different slogans.

Speaking on the occasion, PML-N leader Hanif Siddiqui said that October 12, 1999 is the darkest day in the history of Pakistan as the democratically elected government of prime minister Nawaz Sharif was toppled by the generals.

He said Mr Sharif had sacked General Pervez Musharraf for holding an inquiry into the Kargil debacle. He said due to the policies of General Pervez Musharraf, the country was burning today.

Sultan Shaikh called upon President Asif Ali Zardari to order arrest of Pervez Musharraf and to hold his trial under article 6 of the constitution. He demanded that the Fata operation should be stopped forthwith and the issue be resolved through negotiations.

He urged the government to reject the US agenda.

Our Larkana correspondent adds:

Two groups of the PML-N, led by Babu Sarfraz Jatoi and Ashiq Ali Kalhoro, held separate programmes. Mr Kalhoro led a protest demonstration outside the local press club and Mr Jatoi addressed a gathering in the district office of the PML-N.

Mr Jatoi recalled that General Parvez Musharraf had unconstitutionally usurped power and got PML-N leader Nawz Sharif arrested on Oct 12, 1999.

Zain Ansari, vice-president, PML-N, Sindh, in his telephonic address condemned the 12 October coup and said that the PML-N had always stood for restoration of democracy on permanent footing.

He said that the PML-N opposed the violation of Pakistani territory by foreign forces.