Lahore - The PPP, now ruling only in the Sindh province, observed Black Day on Friday to mark the dismissal of its first government on July 5, 1977, at the hands of military dictator Ziaul Haq.
The party cadres in major cities organised seminars to condemn the military dictator and highlight the national services rendered by PPP founder ZA Bhutto. Different party leaders in their speeches said July 5, 1977, would always be remembered as a black day in the history of Pakistan.
PPP Chief Patron Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a statement that terrorism the country was facing at the moment rooted as a result of the July 5 coup and all those responsible for it were directly or indirectly involved in the horrible conditions the nation was thrown into. The sacrifices rendered by the leadership and the workers of PPP for democracy and rights of the people remained unmatched, he said, adding his party would never bow down to any kind of dictatorship as power rested with the people.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari said in a message that a dictator usurped political power through brute force, exploited the religion, destroyed the constitution and state institutions and pushed the country to the abyss of social and political destruction. “But the democratic ethos of people cannot be suppressed through force, he said, adding the constitution had been largely restored and a historic democratic transition had taken place in Pakistan following the general elections held in May.
Paying homage to the martyrs of democracy, the president said, “On this day my thoughts also go to those martyrs of democracy, who suffered and sacrificed during that black period of our national history.”
Meanwhile, PPP Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki said democracy in the country today was the result of the sacrifices of the PPP leaders. Addressing a public gathering to observe July 5 as Black Day at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, she paid tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for their contributions to revival of democracy in the country and said that no party other than PPP had this pride.
Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentary Leader in Punjab Assembly Qazi Ahmad Saeed said PPP would emerge as a stronger party in the next elections as it still lived in the hearts of the people. Talking to media people, he said PPP was the name of an ideology which could never be obliterated and had a vote bank in all the provinces of the country, adding the next elections would prove the PPP was the largest party.
He hoped the party would be reactivated by persuading estranged members and they would soon rejoin it. He said a dictator had ambushed the people’s rights and democracy and PPP would always observe July 5 as a black day.