5th July,1977

Remembering This Darkest Day of History (5th July) On this day 29 years ago General Ziaul Haq uprooted democracy from Pakistan and that highly condemnable act committed by him continues to hang even today on us with all its evil ramifications casting a long shadow of doubt on country's future. He snatched the government on 5th July, 1977 from the elected representative of people of Pakistan Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Pakistan's so-called 'savior' in military uniform in 1977 had dug the country's grave. Our latest 'savior' (General Musharraf) now is all geared up to lay the body to rest. Our Founder, the Quaid, had established Pakistan with hopes of making it a model of a democratic state. While Zia made Mr Jinnah's dream sour, it is Musharraf who has converted it into a horrific nightmare. Zia's greatest disservice to Pakistan was to drown Quaid's democratic liberal ideological Muslim moorings into an ocean of confusion with the objective of converting it into a Sunni Wahabi state. Zia straight jacketed Pakistan into his Sunni-Wahabi-Deobandi mould. His ten years were most abusive for the minorities and oppressive for women. All the four military dictators, more so Musharraf, obtrusively dismantled the Constitution of the day and trampled with their jackboots those institutional oaths that give meaning to patriotism, loyalty and commitment to serve and protect the country. The Constitution of 1973 was the most outstanding achievement of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the post-1971 political leadership. It resolved the tricky issue of the quantum of provincial autonomy to the satisfaction of the elected representatives of the federating units who agreed to its shape and form unanimously. By introducing arbitrary amendments in the 1973 Constitution, he converted it into a handmaid of the President and Praetorian center to transform it into a garrison state rather than the guarantor of equal distribution of resources, just power sharing, equality in job opportunities to all the citizens of the federation. Remember Zia's promise of holding elections in 90 days and his great betrayal. As his obedient follower Musharraf more or less did the same when in December 2003 he pledged that he would give up the post of Army Chief by December 31, 2004. He is still holding the two offices and the news is that he would keep his uniform until 2012. Zia demolished Pak-Afghan borders for the American Jihad. Zia kept quiet on Kashmir, Musharraf is about to do a sell-out. He has already surrendered Pakistan's traditional stand. Musharraf has rendered our independence into a myth for Washington's war on terrorism. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave his life to provide nuclear glow to Pakistan, Musharraf is hellbent on extinguishing it. Zia lost Siachen Glacier to India without firing a shot in its defence. Zia had laid the foundation of making Pakistani military a business enterprise. Musharraf has erected a whole empire on it. Zia sowed the seeds of Kalashnikov culture, narcotics (heroin) and Talibanisation of which Pakistan is suffering even today.

We are critics of Gen. Zia-ul-Haques actions which resulted in the present difficulties that Pakistan is suffering from. The biggest problem is the terrorism in the name of religion. It was during General ZiaulhaqÕs period that first time incidents of terrorism happened in mosques, shrines and religious meetings and processions .Thousands of people were killed in such incidents. These included people belonging to all religious schools of thought and big clergy men and common citizens, political leaders and social workers, the Imams of mosques and their followers.

Gifts of Zia-ul-Haque (MQM & Jamaat-e-Islaami): Zia created organizations in the country so that they can guard his benefit so that he can continue his rule. Most important of these are Jamaat-e-Islaami and MQM. Jamaat-e-Islaami was never a political force in Pakistan but it was supported out of the way by General Zia-ul-Haque and ISI just for the sake of their rule. They promoted Jamaat-e-Islaami just to implement their Islamization policy whereas people of Pakistan are as Islamic as they were before Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. But Jamaat-e-Islaami has become a force in all parts of country and they are even polluting the educational institutes using their terrorist organization Islaami Jamiat Talba. MQM was created to counter Pakistan People’s Party in Sindh after Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged by Zia-ul-Haq and his American masters. But MQM in the name of Mohajirs has hijacked the beautiful city of Karachi and they are constantly promoting terrorism in Karachi by murdering people for the last 20 years. Plus they are strong supporters of India and their leader Altaf Hussain (the terrorist) has publicly called the division of India the biggest blunder of 20th Century. What can you expect from a party who is against the creation of Pakistan.