PA condemns attack on Hindu temple

Punjab Assembly reverberated with strong reaction from both treasury and the opposition lawmakers over an attack on Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan.

“The responsible be tried under terrorism charges and brought to book for remarkable punishment,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) MPA Uzma Kardar said.

She was also of the view that a resolution be unanimously passed from assembly and a message be sent across the world that minorities rights are protected in Pakistan.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) minority MPA Khalil Tahir Sindhu expressed his anguish over the attack adding Hindus always stood with Pakistan and they are part of Pakistan.

He said such practices must be stopped as attack on worship places is a heinous act.

“Those who are involved in the attack and who hatched the conspiracy be taken to task with no flexibility.”

He said Pakistan always stood with minorities so there is a need to send a strong message that the Hindu community is part of Pakistan and they are safe here.

During the question-answer session, MPA Khalil Sindhu questioned the absence of secretary fisheries. He said there was the ruling of the Speaker that the secretary of the department concerned must be present in the assembly when there is a question-answer session about the relevant department.

Read: SC orders ‘immediate arrest’ of RYK temple attackers

He demanded strict action against those secretaries who did not bother to attend the assembly sessions.

Meanwhile, MPA Sindhu pointed quorum, first the panel of chairmen ordered to ring the bells for five minutes and when observed the strength of the MPAs did not meet the required number, he then ordered to ring the bells for fifteen minutes but all in vain as the PTI government failed in showing the presence of the required number of its lawmakers. However, the panel of chairmen Nawab Zada Waseem Khan Badozai adjourned the House by Monday at 1:00 pm.

House proceedings started with a lapse of one hour under the chair of the panel of chairmen.

Later, a PTI’s MPA Momina Waheed submitted a resolution in the PA secretariat against the attack on the Hindu temple demanding strict and prompt action against those who were involved in this attack and unmask those who hatched the conspiracy for their vested interests.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2021.