PPP to observe July 5 as ‘black day’

The Pakistan People’s Party and its subsidiary organisations including the People’s Lawyers Forum will observe July 5 as a ‘black day’ as then army chief had dismissed the elected government of then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the day in 1977.

Protest rallies, seminar and other activities will be held in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other cities of Pakistan. People’s Lawyers Forum will organise protest rallies at district level to condemn dictatorship and express solidarity with the democracy.

The lawyers and civil society representatives will wear black ribbons on arms. On July 5, 1977, then Chief of Army Staff General Ziaul Haq toppled the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and stayed to the rule for 11 years despite promising to hold elections within 90 days.