Staff Report
PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, in a statement marking the anniversary of July 5, 1977, termed the day a dark chapter in Pakistan’s democratic history.
He said that on this day, democracy was ambushed, and the country’s first democratically elected government led by Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikqar Ali Bhutto was ousted through unconstitutional means, marking the beginning of a bleak era.
Governor Kundi said July 5 remains a painful reminder of the moment when the people’s right to rule was snatched by force.
He paid tribute to Shaheed Zulfikqar Ali Bhutto for politically awakening the masses, giving them the courage to live with dignity, and laying the foundations of a strong and self-reliant Pakistan principles that were unacceptable to anti-democratic forces.
He emphasized the continued need to uphold democracy and the supremacy of the Constitution, stating that efforts must persist to ensure no dictator ever dares to trample the public mandate again.
The Governor highlighted the sacrifices of the Pakistan Peoples Party, stating that despite immense losses, the party safeguarded the integrity of the country.
He recalled that after the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, former President Asif Ali Zardari united the nation with the slogan “Pakistan Khappay,” while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s diplomatic and media advocacy during Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos projected Pakistan’s stance with unmatched clarity and resolve on international forums.
