PESHAWAR: Politicians and journalists observed July 5 as ‘black day’ to commemorate the sacrifices of political workers and journalists against former dictator General Ziaul Haq’s prolonged martial law.

Media persons led by Khyber Union of Journalists president Nisar Mehmood and Peshawar Press Club president Nasir Hussain held a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club in support of freedom of expression and democracy, and against the violence on journalists.

They said that journalists had always rendered sacrifices for press freedom, and strengthening of democracy in the country and vowed to continue the struggle for welfare of the nation and country in future too.

Pakistan Peoples Party, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, president Khan Zada Khan, general secretary Mohammad Humayun Khan, media coordinator Fahim Khattak and PPP women wing provincial president MPA Nighat Orakzai in their statements paid tribute to the PPP leaders for the sacrifices they had rendered for strengthening of democratic institutions in the country.

PPP recalls sacrifices of leaders for democracy

The PPP leaders claimed that democracy in Pakistan was flourished due to the sacrifices of Bhutto family, saying that several members of the Bhutto family, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, laid down their lives for democracy but never compromised on principles.

They recalled that General Zia had imposed martial law in the country on July 5, 1977 by dismissing the elected government of PPP led by their founder leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and stayed to rule for 11 years despite promising to hold elections within 90 days.

“The dictator had abrogated the Constitution on this date and sent their leader to the gallows through a controversial verdict of the Supreme Court,” they said and added that PPP had never succumbed to the pressure, cruelties of the dictators and always continued struggle for supremacy of the Constitution, freedom of expression and strengthening of democracy in the country.

Mr Khattak said that PPP used to take out rallies and hold protest demonstrations to condemn the July 5 and observe it as ‘black day’ but this year the events were cancelled on the directives of the leadership to focus attention on the welfare of IDPs.

He said that PPP was the only party which always avoided backing military regimes.

He urged other political parties to join hands with PPP for strengthening democratic institutions.

Published in Dawn, July 6th , 2014