July 5 termed darkest day in country’s history

ABBOTTABAD: The People’s Doctors Forum (PDF) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a body of medical professionals affiliated with the Pakistan People’s Party, on Sunday termed the July 5, 1977 as the “darkest day” in the country’s political history when a military dictator General Ziaul Haq toppled Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s democratically elected government and imposed martial law on the country for 11 years.
Addressing the gathering organised here, PDF President Prof Dr Nisar Khan said the doctors in the province observed the July 5 as a ‘black day’ in all the districts to highlight the struggle of the PPP workers and leaders for the rights of the downtrodden.
Dr Nisar Khan said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the greatest leader of Pakistan after the Quaid-i-Azam and had become a powerful voice for the poor who empowered them. He said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto sacrificed his life for democracy and the masses but refused to bow to the retrogressive and anti-democratic forces.
PDF Information Secretary Dr Daud Iqbal said that Bhutto was eliminated under a conspiracy hatched to deprive the country of a dynamic leader. He called for re-organising the party to highlight the vision of the late leader.
PDF Ayub Teaching Hospital President Dr Abkar Khan and President People’s Students Federation Ayub Medical College Syed Murad Ali also spoke on the occasion. The speakers vowed to continue the mission of Zulfikar Ali Bhtto.
A number of office-bearers of the PDF, doctors and representatives of People’s Students Federation were present on the occasion.
BANNU: The activists of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sunday observed July 5 as a ‘black day’ and organised functions to condemn the imposition of martial law and toppling of a democratic government by a dictator in 1977.
The speakers said that July 5 was the darkest day in the history of the country as a military ruler overthrew a democratic government and hanged an elected prime minister Zufikar Ali Bhutto.
They said Zufikar Ali Bhutto preferred death but did not bow to a military dictator. They said Bhutto still lives in the hearts of millions of his workers.
PARACHINAR: The workers of the PPP marked the day as black day and staged rallies against the imposition of martial law and ousting of an elected government on July 5, 1977.
The participants were chanting slogans in favour of democracy and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.The speakers paid tributes to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for sacrificing his life for the cause of democracy.