Two-minute silence in National Assembly

Prime minister calls for national debate on counter-terrorism strategy.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday observed a two-minute silence to mourn the assassination of Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

Members rose from their seats and stood silent for two minutes. Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza condemned the assassination of the minister, terming it a tragic incident which conveyed a negative impression of the country to the world.

The speaker proposed that the House would hold a debate on the issue to formulate a joint strategy with the suggestions of parliamentarians to curb such incidents in future. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani went one step further and proposed to hold a debate in the National Assembly on devising a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.

Condemning the assassination of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the prime minister proposed to convene a meeting of the heads of parliamentary committees to discuss the issue. Gilani also proposed to call a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet involving civil and military bureaucracy to adopt effective measures to curb such incidents.

The Assembly did not take up the order of the day due to the assassination of the minister and was adjourned to meet again today (Thursday) at 10 am.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2011.