ISLAMABAD- Former President Asif Ali Zardari considered July 5 a black day in national calendar, when a dictator overthrew an elected Prime Minister and later executed him, decimated the Constitution and destroyed the state institutions. He added that it was a reminder to strive for the protection of democracy.
This was stated in a message denouncing the abrogation of the Constitution and takeover by dictatorship on July 5, 1977.
Paying glowing tributes to the democratic ethos of the people, the Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stated, "The people of Pakistan have consistently refused to be suppressed by force and have always bounced back to seize their democratic rights from the jaws of dictators.”
He went on to say, “Dictators and usurpers of people's rights and freedom must be punished; they will be.” He added that the voices calling for the accountability of dictators were a manifestation of the civilian yearning for democracy.