July 5 is a day of national shame and horror: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party co-chairman and former Pakistan president Asif Zardari called July 5 a black day, in statement issued by the party office on Monday.

"July 5 is a black day in our national calendar on many counts. On this day a dictator overthrew an elected prime minister and later executed him. On this day the Constitution was decimated and thus began a process of destruction of state institutions," the statement said.

"Never before had any one individual done so much of destruction as was done by the dictator who hijacked the nation and national institutions on this day. Truly, it is a day of national shame and horror. It enjoins upon us to jealously guard democracy on the one hand and to punish the dictators on the other," it added.

The former president in his message denounced the abrogation of the Constitution and takeover by dictatorship on July 5, 1977.

He paid tribute to the workers who suffered during the era of military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.

 “On this day, my thoughts also go to those martyrs of democracy who suffered and sacrificed during that black period of our national history. they suffered so that the future generations may live in peace and honor. They are our national heroes and heroines.”

On July 5, 1977 martial law was imposed and elected prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's government was toppled.