ISLAMABAD, July 4: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has vowed that her party would continue its struggle for the restoration of democracy. In a message released by the PPP media cell here Sunday, Ms Bhutto said July 5 is a black day in the history of Pakistan.

It was on this day over a quarter of a century ago when a military dictator struck in the middle of the night to overthrow a democratic and popularly elected government in 1977, she said.

"What followed thereafter", the former premier observed, "was a sordid and unfortunate tale of destruction of democratic institutions, decimation of the judiciary, usurpation of fundamental rights and disenfranchisement of the people of Pakistan".

A reign of terror was let loose, innocent people were flogged and hanged merely for political dissent and ethnicity and sectarianism were deliberately promoted by the usurper to create an artificial constituency for perpetuating his [Gen Ziaul Haq's] rule.

The dictator did a great disservice to Islam when he exploited its name to provide a cover for some of the most oppressive measures of the usurper, she observed. "It is great tragedy that today once again the country is under a dictatorship and the Constitution has been re-written by an individual to suit his own dictatorial agenda and to give a permanent role to the usurpers."

The PPP will oppose it in accordance with the aspirations of the people, she said. On this day while we condemn fascism and dictatorship in all their manifestations, we also reiterate our resolve to continue to fight against tyranny, dictatorship, she said.

The dictators continue to employ their typical tools of deceit, subterfuge and intimidation, she observed. "But no deceit, subterfuge or use of force will deter the pro-democracy forces in the country from continuing to fight against tyranny," she concluded.