Pakistan

In 1978, a military coup led by General Zia unseated President Bhutto. Bhutto was charged with corruption and sentenced to death. Despite pleas from many world leaders, the new Pakistani government hung Bhutto on April 5th..

The 1977 Military Coup: In 1977, there were national elections in Pakistan which Bhutto's party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), won by a large margin. However, the opposition parties accused the PPP of rigging the election. This led to widespread civil disorder and protests known as the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) movement. In July 1977, amidst this political instability, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the Chief of Army Staff, overthrew Bhutto in a military coup. Zia initially declared martial law but promised to hold new elections within three months.

Arrest and Trial of Bhutto: After the coup, Bhutto was arrested and tried on various charges by the military government. The most serious charge was the alleged conspiracy to murder a political opponent, Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri. The case became known as the 'Bhutto trial' and was widely criticized for its lack of impartiality. Bhutto was found guilty and sentenced to death in 1978.

Execution of Bhutto: Despite international appeals for clemency from numerous world leaders, the military government led by General Zia went ahead with the execution. Bhutto was hanged in Rawalpindi's Central Jail on April 4, 1979.

The events of this period were critical in shaping modern Pakistan's political history. General Zia would go on to rule Pakistan as a military dictator for eleven years until his death in a plane crash in 1988. During this period, Zia implemented a program of 'Islamization' of Pakistan's laws and society, which continues to have a lasting impact on the country. As for Bhutto, he became a martyr figure for his supporters, and his legacy has significantly influenced Pakistani politics, with his daughter Benazir Bhutto later serving as Prime Minister.