General Ziaul Haq. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI:
Flashing a spotlight on July 5 as the day in history when military general Ziaul Haq steeped the country in ‘social and political destruction’ 36 years ago, President Asif Ali Zardari called upon people to unite for democratic values.
Describing this day as a ‘Black Day,’ the president said: “It was on this day when a dictator usurped political power through brute force, exploited religion, destroyed the Constitution and state institutions...”
“Indeed the nation is still reeling under the impact of the dictatorial takeover on this dark day.”
He lauded that the democratic ethos, marred by the 1977 abrogation, was restored – as manifested by the recent transition of power from one set of civilian leadership to another.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
PML (Zia) Faction's head, Ijaz ul Haq announce the day as "YAUM-e-NIJAT" at parliament. Strange things happen in our country.
they are south Asian Muslims as per what the flag indicates ...if they became separate and recognized according to universal social scientific bodies like UN then its the principle of their individualistic identity of being moderate, social scientific Muslims ...its optimisim in their belife of social scientific principles of democracy being a third world and low income country just like india and other south asian neighbours they need to adhere to their south asian muslim identity ... after alll zia's principles were individualistic and not social scientific technocratic the way other countries have committees to form their laws and regulations , hence now most of the population suffers from bad social science of idealism and radicalism, its disturbing the human resources of the nation apart from the natural resources .... they have a right to family and children like any other human beings and hence they need to criminalize zia's period which was totally un scientific and more of personalized individualism
very good i call it an act against the social science of pakistan and its flag for what it actually stands for secular moderate progressive muslims who wanted social progress and economic as well in lieu with modern science of socialistic theory of democracy and economics and not extremist and let the country be bothered by so called drone attacks !!!!
"The Tooth" rules!
Why not he declared this day a holiday.
Oh the President has been left behind from the Beijing Jamboree. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I am told Peking Duck is his favorite.
It is a black day indeed, not only this every other day when Martial law was imposed on this country should be declared black day
i am sure many will oppose this call of zardari as uncalled for/ undesirable and may be against the religion.