While addressing a charged and lively function of the People’s Students Federation (PSF) in connection the observance of “Black Day”, Pakistan Peoples’ Party Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo has said General Ziaul Haq toppled the elected government of Former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and thus inflicted the appalling injustice on the nation.
The nation has been paying a very heavy price since then in the form of extremism, terrorism and intolerance, he added.
He maintained had Ziaul Haq not imposed martial law in the country, Pakistan would have been a developed country like Malaysia and Turkey.
He said that it was the vision of Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto that Pakistan’s defense became invincible, adding that the country had the capability of hitting any part of enemy territory with pin-drop precision in case of aggression.
“Had Pakistan not been a nuclear power, its security would have been in great danger emanating from the Eastern boarders,” he pointed out.
He expressed his happiness over the PSF unity, adding that now the students would play an active role in disseminating the message of Bhutto in every nook and corner of the country.
The students united under the banner of PSF are better poised to become the leading team of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, he added.
He pointed out that the PPP had the clear position on terrorism and been advocating that terrorists must be fought on their turf because they were devoid of civility and human life had no meaning for them.
“The Zarb-e-Azab is the vindication of the PPP chairman’s stance right from the beginning,” he observed.
He said that the PPP highly appreciates and honours the sacrifices the army was rendering in the fight against terrorism and totally supported it in this regard.
Later, Sardar Latif Khosa, in his speech said that ‘Bhuttoism’ was a political philosophy for seeking redemption from the forces of exploitation and suppression.
“After the independence, the feudal lords and capitalists hijacked the freedom of the people but Bhutto severed these chains of subjugation and indignity,” he added.
He congratulated the PSF for organising such a grand function at a short notice.
In his speech, Nadeem Afzal Chan maintained that Ziaul Haq had introduced religious, political and economic terrorism in the country and the nation been paying very heavy price since then in the shape of extremism and terrorism that had become the albatross for the country.
He warned those elements who wanted to do politics behind the powerful institutions, adding that the PPP would scuttle their designs thoroughly and comprehensively.
He expressed his resolve to deal with planted elements within and without the party.
He advised the journalists not to resort to media trial of the PPP and encouraged them to educate the people about facts not fiction.
Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said that Bhutto gave constitution to the nation that had been serving as guarantee to the federation of Pakistan.
Other speakers also condemned Ziaul Haq for dismissing the elected government of Bhutto, adding that the PPP would continue the struggle till the full realisation of the rights to the people of Pakistan.