Local leadership of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has finalised all arrangements to observe July 5 as "Black Day" in protest of the infamous dictatorial rule imposed by Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, toppling the democratically elected government. Zia had ousted the elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on July 5, 1977 and stayed in power for eleven years despite promising to hold general elections within 90 days.
PPP President of Rawalpindi-chapter, Amir Fida Paracha told APP that party workers would gather at Liaquat Bagh from across the district to participate in the demonstration to reiterate their commitment to support the cause of democracy and express hatred against non-democratic forces.
Managing Director of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal, Zammurd Khan said PPP rendered unmatched sacrifices to strengthen democracy in the country and the workers would follow footprints of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutt and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto under the dynamic leadership of PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.
Member of PPP Central Executive Committee Qazi Sultan Mehmood, who remained in jail for around four years during the Zia regime, termed the July 5 the darkest day in history of the country as a large number of democracy-loving people were sent behind the bars, gallows and subjected to public flogging. But they did not bow before the forces of tyranny.
He blamed that Zia introduced the Kalashnikov and drug culture in the country, besides fanning sectarianism and now we being the nation are facing a number of challenges at national and international fronts due to the policies adopted during the Zia era. What we are facing today, is all the result of the seed sowed by Zia, he added.