July 5 marks a black day in history: Bilawal

PPP chief pays homage to party Jiyalas who endured hardships for democracy

KARACHI:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that July 5, 1977 marks a black day in the country’s history when the elected government of Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was toppled.

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell of Bilawal House on the eve of July 5, Bilawal said that the country paid a heavy price of the overthrow and assassination of the country’s first-ever elected prime minister, as it pushed the nation towards extremism, terrorism, and Kalashnikov and drugs culture.

The PPP chairman said that Pakistan was still struggling against those menaces. He warned that despite those immense sufferings, there are “still some people among us who are always on the lookout to harm democracy”.

“The oppressive government of Gen Ziaul Haq unleashed brutality against the democrats, liberals and true patriots of Pakistan. Democratic Pakistanis were subjected to imprisonment, flogging and torture, and execution,” he recalled.

“Today's youth cannot even imagine the difficulties faced by the youth in that era. But despite these heinous reprisals and the terror of the dictatorial regime, the determination and spirit of the Pakistani people, especially the Jiyalas, remained unwavering,” he added.

On this day, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, the nation remembered the sacrifices of those who suffered enormously for the sake of democracy today. “We renew our commitment to uphold those values for which Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and countless others fought bravely.”