Zias coup against Bhutto marks 32 years

Today is the completion of 32 years since the PPP founder-leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos government was overthrown by General Zialul Haq on July 5, 1977. Bhutto was later hanged on Zias orders and the military dictator went on to rule the country for 11 years till his demise in a plane crash on August 17, 1988. The day is observed as the one of the darkest days in the countrys history, as a military dictator overthrew the legitimately-elected government, and pushed the country into a long era of dictatorship. On April 1 1976, in a surprise move, the then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had appointed Ziaul Haq as the chief of the army staff. When the political unsuitability reached its climax due to the deadlock between Bhutto and the leadership of Pakistan National Alliance on the issue of general elections, Zia took advantage of the situation. On July 5, 1977, he carried out a bloodless coup overthrowing Bhuttos government and enforced martial law in the country.He promised elections within three months. However, Zia postponed the elections and began criminal investigations of the senior PPP leadership. Bhutto was sentenced to death. Despite international appeals, Bhutto was hanged on April 6, 1979.