Putting the system at risk
On July 5, 1977, General Ziaul Haq toppled the elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and enforced military rule in the country. The military dictator had taken over with the promise that elections would be held within 90 days. He continued to rule with an iron had for 11 years. What must not be forgotten is that the agitation by the parties which were the components of PNA paved the way for military intervention. Losing the election badly these parties had initiated protests against election rigging but soon took up the slogan of enforcing “Nizam e Musafa.” Bhutto tried to negotiate with the PNA but Ziaul Haq, who was determined to make use of the chaos created by these parties, announced martial law, arrested ZAB and got him sentenced to death through a dubious process that led many to call it a judicial murder.
ZAB had himself provided a justification to the PNA for the movement. He was still popular and could have won the elections hands down. The blue-eyed civil servants appointed to key opposition pockets however went for overkill, arresting and torturing a few opposition candidates and indulging in blatant rigging in a handful of constituencies. A futile attempt was made by Bhutto to quell the protests through a disproportionate use of force, including deploying the army in Karachi and Lahore.
As PPP observes the BlacK Day to protest against the coup that ensconced Zia ul Haque in power it needs to be reminded of the ramifications of extra-parliamentary forms of struggle. PPP’s keenness to discredit the PML-N government has already led its youthful chairman to resort to chauvinistic slogans raised by rabid India haters like the Difae Pakistan Council (DPC). As an opposition party the PPP is within its right to expose the failures of the PML-N. It needs however to steer clear of any course that may put the system into risk. The country is still facing some of the consequences of the July 5 Black Day. Another Black Day is the last thing it can afford.