Quetta attack: MPs question claims of decline in terror acts

NA observes one-minute silence as lawmakers demand security for minorities’ worship places

ISLAMABAD: Echoes of the blast that ripped through a church in Quetta a day earlier reverberated in the National Assembly on Monday as lawmakers call into question claims of the security agencies of bringing massive reduction in terror incidents.

The house also observed one-minute silence to express solidarity with the victims of the incident in which nine people were killed and more than 50 injured. The lawmakers also demanded enhanced security for churches and other worship places in the country.

However, the government despite facing embarrassment due to lack of quorum which earlier led to suspension of the proceedings twice successfully got two bills passed.



On Monday, the opposition wanted to walk out from the house, a practice which it has been doing since the last Monday when the government removed a bill on Fata reforms from the agenda.

However, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq requested it to avoid a walkout and also not to point out lack of quorum so that the lawmakers, especially of the minorities, could express their views on the Quetta blast.

When the opposition accepted the request, Asiya Nasir, an MNA on reserved seats from Balochistan, took the floor and said the terrorists attempted to malign the image of Pakistan.

She pointed out that churches do not have their own security and that they should be issued licenses for weapons. She also lamented that no representative from the federation reached Quetta to express solidarity with the victims.

“Compensation announced after the terrorist activity at a church in Peshawar has not been yet paid to the victims. This is the third or fourth terrorist activity in Quetta in one month. When will the menace of terrorism end? The security of all churches should be ensured,” she demanded.

Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf assured treatment for people who got injured in the incident.

PPP’s Ijaz Jakhrani condemned the incident and said that Christmas was round the corner and the attack was carried out to spread the message that minorities’ rights were being violated in Pakistan.

MNA Usman Badini asked the government to play its role in maintaining law and order. He said two police personnel were deputed at each mosque, but none at the churches.

Lal Chand Malhi of the PTI called for accepting the failure to control heinous crimes. He also asked the security agencies to take measures to control terrorists activities in the country.

Khaliq George pointed out that there was no barbed wire at the boundary wall of the church in Quetta. He also demanded that licenses of Kalashnikovs be issued for the security of churches.

“The government must allocate Rs100 million for placing barbed wires at the boundary walls of churches. An amount of Rs5 million should also be awarded as compensation for each deceased and Rs1 million for each injured,” he demanded.



Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said an alarming situation had again surfaced. He asked for eliminating hate material and revising the curriculum of educational institutions in the country.

Another lawmaker Abdul Sattar Bachani asked the chair to arrange briefing of the army chief also at the National Assembly.

Later, the entire opposition staged a walkout. Shah Ji Gul Afridi pointed out lack of quorum and the chair suspended the proceedings. The House was found in order when the sitting resumed after half an hour.

Afterwards the house passed two bills, ‘The National Skills University Islamabad Bill, 2017,” and the Pakistan Power and Infrastructure Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017.