There is a lot of brouhaha about the dictator having removed the democratic government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on July 05, 1977. But it was actually the people who had risen against the undemocratic way in which PPP had come into power through rigged elections. Dr Mubashar Hasan writes in his book 'The Mirage of Power', why people had massively joined the PNA movement: "Insecurity of life and property in the cities and highways due to goondaism patronized by the feudal clique of land owners, ministers, the bureaucrats and big racketeers; rampant corruption at all levels including the federal and provincial ministers; operation of the judicial machinery in favour of the financially powerful and unscrupulous people and inordinate delay in justice; mismanagement of government enterprises and of the machinery regulating commerce, industry, transportation and communications; complete dissatisfaction of parents with the educational system; the hatred and contempt surging in the middle class against the less educated, insensitive, medievalist and petty minded ministers who were generally devoid of any sense of merit, justice and love of the people; the offensively luxurious style of ministers, capitalists, landlords, traders and high executives of trade and industry; general atmosphere of sycophancy, influence peddling, misuse of office, position and the like...". Not a very pretty picture of democracy under Mr. Bhutto. -KHURSHID ANWER, Lahore Cantt., via e-mail, July 6.