5th July, a Black Day in the history of Pakistan

Courtesy: The Balochistan Point

5th July is a black day in history of Pakistan. 37 years ago on this day, a military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq toppled a democratic government. General Zia ruled Pakistan for 11 years till his death. He destroyed entire social fabric of the society and turned Pakistan into a safe haven for terrorists, drug lords and sectarian monsters. It can be said that on 5th of July 1977, a civilian dictatorship came to an end and it was replaced by a brutal military dictatorship that changed Pakistan forever.

The Crash of Pak One

President Zia-ul-Haq waved to the army officers who had come to see him off. He then boarded Pak One, the call sign of C-130 which was used as Presidential plane. Pak One took off from Bahawalpur airstrip at 4:30 pm. Pak one was followed by a Cessna reconnaissance plane carrying General Aslam beg, the vice chief of army staff. A few minutes after takeoff, Pak One crashed in plains of Bahawalpur district resulting in death of Zia-ul-Haq and 30 others. General Aslam beg saw the site of plane crash and instructed his pilot to fly to Islamabad. On 17th August 1988, 11 year dictatorial regime of General Zia-ul-Haq was finally over.