With Martial Law Lifted, Anti-Zia Protests Are Staged in Pakistan

In the first demonstrations since martial law was lifted, the opposition Pakistan People’s Party held protests across the country Sunday to honor their executed leader and called for the overthrow of President Zia ul-Haq.

Protests in all of Pakistan’s major cities marked the 58th anniversary of the birth of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistan People’s Party, the largest opposition unit. Bhutto was ousted by a military coup directed by Zia in 1977 and was executed in 1979 after being found guilty of conspiring to murder a political opponent.

“Death to dog Zia!” a crowd of about 3,000 chanted in demonstrations in Rawalpindi. “Hang Zia! Long live Bhutto!”

Riot police were posted at rally sites around the country, but no trouble was reported. The crowds at protests in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore and other cities dispersed quietly, and police did not intervene when protesters chanted anti-government slogans and waved party flags.

Tikka Khan, secretary general of the People’s Party, said in a speech in Rawalpindi that nothing has changed with the lifting of martial law Dec. 30 after 8 1/2 years of military rule.

Khan said the party will follow Benazir Bhutto, 31, Bhutto’s oldest daughter, who is living in Europe. The crowd cheered wildly at the mention of her name, chanting, “Benazir is the pride of Asia!”

Khan and other speakers also attacked the United States for supporting Zia and charged that Washington had backed the coup against Bhutto.

“Zia is an American stooge!” said Qazi Sultan Mahmoud, a party leader, as the crowd at Rawalpindi chanted, “American dogs, American dogs!”

Zia retained the presidency in a December, 1984, referendum in which he ran unopposed. He commands the army and holds broad powers over the civilian government of Prime Minister Mohammed Khan Junejo, whom he appointed.

About 5,000 people attended demonstrations in Karachi, and about 4,000 turned out for a protest in Lahore. Groups ranging from a few dozen to hundreds attended scores of similar events around the country.