Ans: General Zia-ul-Had’s Era (1977-1988):
General elections were held under Bhutto government in March 1977.
Opposition parties alleged large scale rigging in the National Assembly
elections and boycotted the provincial assembly elections to be held few
days later.
The alliance of opposition parties started aggressive protest against Bhutto
govemment..
The opposition raised the slogan of ‘Nizam-e-Mustafa’ (aripe) and
claimed that the implementation of Islamic laws was the only solution of the
problems of the common man.
The slogan of Nizam-e-Mustafa () attracted enormous popular
support.
Street agitation was so widespread that it practically crippled the
government.
In these circumstances the Army Chief General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
intervened and imposed Martial Law in the country on 5 July, 1977. Bhutto
was deposed.
General Zia ruled the country till August 17, 1988.