Tag: Gen Ziaul Haq

  • ‘Blackest day in the history of Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto on Ziaul Haq’s coup 45 years ago

    ‘Blackest day in the history of Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto on Ziaul Haq’s coup 45 years ago

    Foreign Minister (FM) and Chairperson Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed July 5, 1977 as “the blackest day in the history of Pakistan”. He reiterated PPP’s commitment to democracy.

    On July 5, 1977, military dictator General Ziaul Haq ousted an elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto through a military coup.

    Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the founder of the PPP and the ninth prime minister of Pakistan.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry also tweeted about July 5 and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

    “Today is July 5 when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was overthrown. Today’s political suffocation and situation is close to what it was back in July 5, 1977.” He added that the only difference is that the “PPP is a main player in today’s fascism’”

    Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman called July 5 a dark day in Pakistan’s history.

  • Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced three men to death over blasphemous posts on social media.

    The verdict was reserved in the case on Dec 15, 2020 after a four-year long trial.

    ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas, while announcing the verdict, said the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against the accused.

    All three accused, Abdul Waheed, Rana Noman Rafaqat and Nasir Ahmed, have been found guilty, the ruling pronounced.

    A 10-year imprisonment sentence and Rs100,000 fine was also awarded to a professor, reported Geo.

    Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan. Rights advocates have long been demanding a reform of the controversial laws, introduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s.

    Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.

  • ‘Ginnah’: Photos of alcoholic drink named after Jinnah go viral

    ‘Ginnah’: Photos of alcoholic drink named after Jinnah go viral

    After pictures of an alcohol brand named ‘Ginnah’ went viral on social media, the Indian media outlets, mostly, have started reporting that the bottle was named after the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

    According to the photos whose veracity is unconfirmed as of now — except that it has garnered many reactions on Twitter — it is a drink “enriched with the essence of randomly selected fresh herb, whole spice and dried fruits”.

    Also, the back label of the bottle reads: “Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan that came into being in August 1947 as a secular state. Decades later, the country was pushed over the cliff by a military dictator [Gen Ziaul Haq] aided by supporters in Washington D.C.”

    It went on to say Jinnah, more commonly known as ‘The Great Leader’, would never have approved of the country Gen Zia turned Pakistan to for the designs of the “clergy”. It also referred to Jinnah’s rather exquisite lifestyle, saying he indulged in gin and whiskey throughout his life.

    “In memory of the man of pleasure who he was: ‘Ginnah’,” the bottom of the label reads.

    A Twitter user posted photos of the gin named ‘Ginnah’ after the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam.

    Fashion designer Deepak Parwani wrote: “The world has move on to this #Jinnah.”

    While some social media users are still wondering if these photos are legit.

    The alcohol in Pakistan was criminalised by PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who came to power in 1970s, to appease the religious lobby. Before that, it was readily available in the big cities of Pakistan. Following Bhutto, Gen Zia made Islamic laws stringent and Pakistan starting moving away from the idea of a modern Muslim state.