Zulfikar Ali Bhutto lives on in hearts of people: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik said this week that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto lives on in the hearts of the people.

“July 5 is a Black Day in Pakistan’s history. On this day, democracy was overthrown, and dictatorship imposed. The overthrow of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, didn’t just deprive the nation of a charismatic leader who envisioned a progressive Pakistan but it unleashed intolerance, extremism, sectarianism, and the Kalashnikov culture that still haunt us today,” he said.

The PPP leader added: “From the 1973 Constitution to Pakistan’s nuclear strength, Bhutto’s vision continues to shape and strengthen our future.”

On July 5, 1977, the PPP’s government, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was overthrown by a coup led by Zia-ul-Haq. This event, known as the 1977 Pakistani military coup, resulted in the imposition of martial law and the arrest of Bhutto. The PPP had been in power since 1971, following the 1970 elections and the subsequent secession of East Pakistan.

The coup occurred amidst political turmoil following the 1977 general elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging and widespread protests. The opposition, organized under the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), had accused the PPP of widespread electoral manipulation.

This coup marked a significant turning point in Pakistani politics, leading to a long period of rule under Zia-ul-Haq and deeply impacting the PPP’s future. The PPP however, returned to power in 1988 after Zia’s death in a plane crash.