HYDERABAD, July 5: Senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party reiterated at a seminar that not only retired Gen Pervez Musharraf but his collaborators should also be tried under charges of treason for the Oct 12, 1999 coup as the party observed a black day in most Sindh towns on Friday to condemn Gen Ziaul Haq’s removal of Z.A. Bhutto government on July 5, 1977.

Speaking at the seminar on “democracy and dictatorship” organised by the Peoples Party Youth Wing, they said the dictator should not be held accountable for only his Nov 3, 2007 actions.

Presidential spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar warned that this federation would cease to exist for all practical purposes if it was deprived of federalism, parliamentary democracy or constitution.

He demanded that not only Gen Musharraf but his collaborators also be tried under charges of treason for the Oct 12, 1999 coup. “This is the party’s official position on the trial of Gen Musharraf under Article 6 [of the constitution],” he said.

He said the PPP opposed the idea of trying him for Nov 3, 2007 imposition of emergency alone and cautioned people against anti-democratic forces in the shape of extremists and militants.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali said in his presidential address that the Bhutto family had rendered great sacrifices for the nation. After a long struggle for democracy which saw Z.A. Bhutto hanged and his daughter assassinated, Asif Ali Zardari kept the party together after it was literally orphaned by her sudden departure, he said.

She had said in her letter dated Oct 16 that her husband had the potential to lead the party but the party’s central executive committee made her son chairman and President Zardari co-chairman, he said.

Senator Dr Jehangir Badar said that the PPP’s fight against dictatorship had no parallel in history. In fact, the PPP had ruled for only five years and the party was ready to be held accountable for these five years.

Senator Ajiz Dhamra, Dr Ayub Sheikh and senior journalist Mahmood Sham held Gen Zia responsible for today’s chronic issues of extremism, militancy and suicide bombings.

KHAIRPUR: Activists of the PPP and Sindh People’s Students’ Federation (SPSF) observed the black day and took out a procession which terminated at the press club after marching on different roads.

The activists said the dictator derailed the democratic process and the entire nation waged a struggle against his dictatorship, they said.

DADU: SPSF activists observed the black day by taking out a procession, which started from the SPSF office and terminated at the press club.

MIRPURKHAS: The PPP held a ceremony at its local office and party workers and leaders hoisted black flags and wore black armbands to mark the black day. The leaders condemned the military coup on July 5, 1977 which removed Z.A. Bhutto’s government.

SUKKUR: Activists of PPP-SB also observed black day in Jacobabad to condemn removal of an elected government by military.

The party workers and leaders wore black armbands and hoisted black flags atop the party office as well as on the rooftops of their houses.