PPP pledges to complete ZAB’s mission, observes Black Day

ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP) Workers and leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) across the country observed July 5 as Black Day to commemorate the sacrifice of their great leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the cause of democracy and the poor people of the country.The party leaders and workers across the country pledged to complete the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), strengthen democracy and push back the remnants of martial law regimes.Pakistan Peoples Party observe July 5 as Black day every year as on the day the government of the most popular leader in country’s post Quaid-e-Azam era, was toppled by a dictator General Ziaul Haq.

Despite that Z.A Bhutto and the opposition parties had finalized an agreement to ease tension, Ziaul Haq took over in the darkness of night betraying the leader who had elevated Zia as Army Chief by superseding five senior generals.

Whatever had been the motives or agenda behind overthrowing the government of a popular leader, Zia’s action was a serious blow to democracy in a country already having a chequered democratic history.

Number of events and functions were organized across the country to eulogize Z A Bhutto and condemn the July 5 action of Ziaul Haq, who later also expired in a plane crash after ruling the country for 11 long years.

Main function to this connection was held at the President House where President of PPP Women Wing Faryal Talpur paid homage to late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and said, the party was proud of its workers who went to prisons and faced lashes but remained loyal to the leadership.

She spoke highly of the workers for their life long struggle, patience, steadfastness and unity and said, the Party remained successful due to sacrifices of its workers and leaders.
PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar said the party’s struggle spanned over forty years and it was continuing from generation to generation following the vision of their great leader.

Referring to the importance of the day, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi described July 5 as a turning point in the history of Pakistan People’s Party as the party on one hand, started struggle for the rights of deprived and suppressed strata of society and on the other, encountered dictatorship for restoration of democracy.

“Of course, the blue print of dictatorship of former usurper General Zia is still visible in our minds, to particularly those PPP’s workers who were relentlessly flogged, faced charges of violating dictatorial rule, abducted from their homes in the darkness of night on July 5, 1977,” he said.
In Lahore, Peoples Labour Federation of Pakistan staged a protest demonstration where the labor leaders paid homage to Z A Bhutto for relentless struggle for democracy and vowed to continue his mission for the welfare of labor class in the country.

Federation President Farrukh Zahoor Butt, PLB Punjab’s Information Secretary Muhammad Saleem Mughal and Siddique Baig, PLB Punjab General Secretary Syed Khalid Bokhari, Ithsham-ul-Hassan said that Zia-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ashraf and others addressed the rally and urged the workers to stand committed to legacy of Z A Bhutto.

In Sindh, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Larkana and Kamber-Shahdadkot condemned the coup against Z.A Bhutto. Provincial Ministers Muhammad Ayaz Soomro and Ms. Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto addressing the party, acknowledged the valuable services of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a leader of international stature. He lived for the poor and died for the poor and refused to bow his head before a military dictator,” the speakers said.
“Democracy was his commitment and he laid down his life for it,” they said and pledged to continue the mission of Z.A Bhutto.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Fata also observed July 5 as Black day and condemned overthrowing of elected government of Qaid-e-Awam by dictator General Ziaul Haq.
The leaders and workers of the party vowed to carry forward cherished mission of Z.A Bhutto Shaheed and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed to make Pakistan a strong democratic Muslim welfare state among the comity of nations.

The PPP wings including lawyers, women, doctors etc arranged rallies and walks to condemn the overthrowing of the government of Z.A Bhutto as people gathered at rallies and walks in different areas of the province.

Rallies were taken out and walks held in other parts of the country as well, with the PPP workers and the leaders renewing the pledge of strengthening democracy to realise the dream of their late leader and making the country strong.

PPP pledges to complete ZAB’s mission, observes Black Day

ISLAMABAD, July 5 (APP) Workers and leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) across the country observed July 5 as Black Day to commemorate the sacrifice of their great leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the cause of democracy and the poor people of the country.The party leaders and workers across the country pledged to complete the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), strengthen democracy and push back the remnants of martial law regimes.Pakistan Peoples Party observe July 5 as Black day every year as on the day the government of the most popular leader in country’s post Quaid-e-Azam era, was toppled by a dictator General Ziaul Haq.

Despite that Z.A Bhutto and the opposition parties had finalized an agreement to ease tension, Ziaul Haq took over in the darkness of night betraying the leader who had elevated Zia as Army Chief by superseding five senior generals.

Whatever had been the motives or agenda behind overthrowing the government of a popular leader, Zia’s action was a serious blow to democracy in a country already having a chequered democratic history.

Number of events and functions were organized across the country to eulogize Z A Bhutto and condemn the July 5 action of Ziaul Haq, who later also expired in a plane crash after ruling the country for 11 long years.

Main function to this connection was held at the President House where President of PPP Women Wing Faryal Talpur paid homage to late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and said, the party was proud of its workers who went to prisons and faced lashes but remained loyal to the leadership.

She spoke highly of the workers for their life long struggle, patience, steadfastness and unity and said, the Party remained successful due to sacrifices of its workers and leaders.
PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar said the party’s struggle spanned over forty years and it was continuing from generation to generation following the vision of their great leader.

Referring to the importance of the day, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi described July 5 as a turning point in the history of Pakistan People’s Party as the party on one hand, started struggle for the rights of deprived and suppressed strata of society and on the other, encountered dictatorship for restoration of democracy.

“Of course, the blue print of dictatorship of former usurper General Zia is still visible in our minds, to particularly those PPP’s workers who were relentlessly flogged, faced charges of violating dictatorial rule, abducted from their homes in the darkness of night on July 5, 1977,” he said.
In Lahore, Peoples Labour Federation of Pakistan staged a protest demonstration where the labor leaders paid homage to Z A Bhutto for relentless struggle for democracy and vowed to continue his mission for the welfare of labor class in the country.

Federation President Farrukh Zahoor Butt, PLB Punjab’s Information Secretary Muhammad Saleem Mughal and Siddique Baig, PLB Punjab General Secretary Syed Khalid Bokhari, Ithsham-ul-Hassan said that Zia-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ashraf and others addressed the rally and urged the workers to stand committed to legacy of Z A Bhutto.

In Sindh, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Larkana and Kamber-Shahdadkot condemned the coup against Z.A Bhutto. Provincial Ministers Muhammad Ayaz Soomro and Ms. Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto addressing the party, acknowledged the valuable services of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a leader of international stature. He lived for the poor and died for the poor and refused to bow his head before a military dictator,” the speakers said.
“Democracy was his commitment and he laid down his life for it,” they said and pledged to continue the mission of Z.A Bhutto.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Fata also observed July 5 as Black day and condemned overthrowing of elected government of Qaid-e-Awam by dictator General Ziaul Haq.
The leaders and workers of the party vowed to carry forward cherished mission of Z.A Bhutto Shaheed and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed to make Pakistan a strong democratic Muslim welfare state among the comity of nations.

The PPP wings including lawyers, women, doctors etc arranged rallies and walks to condemn the overthrowing of the government of Z.A Bhutto as people gathered at rallies and walks in different areas of the province.

Rallies were taken out and walks held in other parts of the country as well, with the PPP workers and the leaders renewing the pledge of strengthening democracy to realise the dream of their late leader and making the country strong.

Nancy Pelosi pays tribute to Benazir Bhutto at documentay premiere

WASHINGTON, June 30 (APP): Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi paid glowing tribute to Pakistan’s martyred prime minister Benazir Bhutto as politicians and policymakers gathered at the premiere of a documentary chronicling courageous life and democratic contributions of the popular leader.“She gave hope for future of the country and was a model of women’s development,” Speaker Pelosi told the gathering including American lawmakers, intellectuals and Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani, senior Pakistani diplomats and Ms. Sanam Bhutto, Benazir’s sister and only living sibling.

Speaker Pelosi recalled her meeting with the Muslim world’s first and youngest woman prime minister in 1989, when Benazir Bhutto visited Washington and met with members of US Congress. Pelosi described the meeting with the young leader as a “thrill of the lifetime.” Pelosi spoke at the National Geographic Society headquarters where ‘Bhutto,’ a riveting documentary on life and work of the Pakistani icon of democracy - was screened by the Independent Television Service.
Speaker Pelosi told the audience she found Benazir Bhutto an “informal and unassuming” figure, although she was an immensely popular and fascinating politician.
She was a “great leader in the world,” Pelosi said of Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated on December 27, 2007, months after her return to Pakistan.
Ambassador Husain Haqqani, paying tribute to one of the most popular and influential leaders of the era, said Benazir Bhutto represented aspirations of the Pakistanis for modern democracy, empowerment of the poor and a model for intelligentsia. “She was a tolerant leader and had full faith in democracy, an inspiring figure for the people desiring change in their lives,” he added.
The ambassador informed the audience how the former prime minister motivated people to stand up against extremism and said she was the first politician who “fearlessly” spoke against parochialism.
Highlighting her ideas and ideals for democratic advancement, Ambassador Haqqani hoped that Pakistan would become a modern democracy as envisioned by Benazir Bhutto.
The 150-minute documentary captures the epic tale of the life, career, and assassination of Benazir Bhutto, who broke the glass ceiling as the first elected woman leader of Muslim world.
A post-screening discussion hosted by PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff provided additional perspective on the film and Benazir Bhutto’s life and work. The film’s director Duane Baughman and producer Mark Siegel participated and answered questions.