1977 coup: ‘Extremism wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Zia’

Several political events to commemorate sacrifices made by PPP workers were held.

MULTAN/ LAHORE:

The Pakistan Peoples Party on Saturday held various events to mark July 5 as a black day throughout the province. On this day, 37 years ago, General Ziaul Haq dismissed prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s elected government. The military dictator imposed martial law and ruled the country for the next 11 years.

The Awami Workers Party arranged a lecture by its president Abid Hassan Minto on the topic Martial law by Zia, impact on the democratic process.

Minto said that the political environment in the country during the Zia era was very oppressive. “Martial law is never in the interest of people. It has always been used by a small ruling elite to reinforce American imperialistic interests,” he said.

Another event was arranged by the PPP’s labour wing at the Lahore Press Club. Senior PPP leader Senator Aitizaz Ahsan was the chief guest.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Aitzaz said he was very disheartened when he heard the news of the military takeover back in 1977.

“It was a very disappointing morning when I woke up to find that marital law had been declared and the prime minister was under arrest. The Parliament had been dissolved and Gen Zia would be addressing the nation in the evening,” he said.

Ahsan said the country had changed a lot since 1977. “There is a lot of difference between the Pakistan of July 5, 1977, when the army took over and abolished democracy, and the Pakistan of July 5, 2014, when the army is subservient to the civilian government,” he said.

“Had martial law not been imposed in 1977, we would have been far ahead of India economically and socially now. There would have been a tolerant and pluralistic society in Pakistan. There would probably be no terrorism,” he said.

The PPP Human Rights Wing and Peoples Youth Organisation also arranged events to highlight the struggle of the PPP workers and leaders for democracy and the people.

In Multan, dozens of PPP workers took out a rally at Katchery Chowk to mark the day. PPP district president Khalid Hanif Lodhi, city president Khursheed Khan and information secretary Khawaja Rizwan Alam took part the rally. The participants carried banners and placards with slogans in support of democracy.

Addressing the rally, Alam said Zufiqar Ali Bhutto was a dynamic leader, who made country’s defence strong by starting a nuclear programme. He said the PPP would continue to play its role for promotion of democracy.

Commenting on the day, defence and political analyst, Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi said the military controlled everything after the 1977 martial law. “On July 5, 1977, the military took over directly which meant that it controlled everything in the state. Today, the civil government is working, but it has a problematic relation with the military and has been unable to create a credible civilian alternative to military rule,” Dr Rizvi said.

He said the situation in 1977 was such that the opposition wanted to get rid of Zulfikhar Ali Bhutto at any cost and some of the leaders were prepared for a military takeover.

“At that time, the military takeover was expected and the only question was when,” said Dr Rizvi.

Saba Eitizaz, a broadcast journalist, said, “It was hard for everyone back then even my parents. My father had to appear in the Foreign Service exams again because the military dictator wanted to show his strength,” she said.

She said Pakistan would have been a different nation if martial had not been imposed in 1977.

Dr Taimur Rehman from LUMS said religious extremism was nurtured in the country during General Zia’s era.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2014.