According to an earlier interview, in 1982, while talking with the late Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar, Gen Zia had admitted to admiring Lata Mangeshkar. During the interview, Nayyar taunted Zia by saying that Indians say that whenever they want to take a cultural group to Pakistan, it is not welcome in Pakistan. One such group included some prominent female singers including Lata Mangeshkar.

Zia took power in a military coup in 1977 after overthrowing the elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He, through his elected judges, got Bhutto sentenced to death in a murder case. Zia had imposed several restrictions in the name of Islam during her plan to Islamize Pakistan, including a ban on female artistes from performing. He became the head of state of Pakistan in 1978 and held the position until he was killed in a plane crash in 1988.