KARACHI - The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sindh observed October 12 as Black Day against toppling of democratic government and putting an elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif behind the bars in 1999 by the then military dictator Pervez Musharraf through military coup.  The workers of the PML-N staged a protest rally outside the Karachi Press Club, condemning the Pervez Musharraf’s extra-constitutional step.

Wearing black armbands as mark of protest, the PML-N workers chanted slogans of long live democracy and down to dictatorship. Later, a huge gathering was also organised at the PML-N House, Karsaz under the chairmanship of provincial president of party Syed Ghaus Ali Shah with large attendance of the party workers. Meanwhile, PML-N workers also hanged to death an effigy of former Army chief Pervez Musharraf, expressing their anger and protest against the military rule.
Gaus Ali Shah said that if dictator Musharraf had not toppled the elected government of Nawaz Sharif on October 12, 1999, the Pakistan would have become an Asian Tiger today.
He opined that with its extra constitutional step of toppling the elected govt, Musharraf compelled Pakistan to move 50 years back.  The PML-N provincial chief termed the parliamentary system as the best system of govt, which ensures the welfare and rights of the peoples. He said that every sector was deteriorating due to incompetence of the govt. He, however, admitted that the PML-N don’t want removal of government for sacking of the system and democracy.
Criticising the PPP government, he said that PPP government had imposed a dual-administrative system of the local government, which would not be acceptable to the peoples of Sindh. He demanded of the government to withdraw the local government law, which has been causing hatred and divide in the Sindh province.
PML-N Sindh President also condemned the cowardly attempt on the life of Malala Yousafzai, who has become a symbol of bravery and hope of future.
Shah condemned the killing of employee of PML-N leader Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and implicating the party’s youth wing president Asif Khan in false case. He alleged that PPP government has started political victimisation of PML-N leaders and workers in Sindh.
Saleem Zia, provincial general secretary of the PML-N, condemned the military coup of Musharraf on October 12, 1999. He said that Pakistan had remained the worse victim of military rulers, who never honoured the Constitution of the country and will of people. Zia opined that country suffered economically as well as socially during the military regimes as extremists were given free hand to impose their kind of Islam. The PML-N leaders announced that whenever the PML-N comes in power, it will revoke the anti-Sindh local government law 2012. They warned the government to stay away of its plan to rig next elections, believing that PML-N will win elections again.