NA unanimously condemns RYK temple attack

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday to condemn an attack on a Hindu temple in Rahimyar Khan district of Punjab, terming it a conspiracy to damage the soft image of the country.

The house was informed that the government had taken notice of the incident, while a police case had been lodged and action had been taken in this regard to arrest those responsible for damaging the temple.

The house met here with Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri in the chair. The temple issued was raised by the lawmakers from the Hindu community. Taking the floor, Kesoo Mal Kheel Das said that Ganesh temple was set on fire. He demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the heinous crime.

Read more: SC orders police to arrest accused for vandalising RYK Hindu temple

National Assembly Member (MNA) Jai Parkash said the incident occurred due to the negligence of local police. Demanding security for all religious places of the minorities, he told the house that the restoration of the temple has started on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Strongly condemning the incident, Ramesh Kumar Malani termed the attack a deliberate attempt to sabotage peace in the country. He pointed out that no arrests had been made so far. He demanded that incident should be investigated thoroughly.

Ramesh Lal told the house that an application had been submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights, which is headed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to draw its attention towards this incident.

Other lawmakers from the minority community, including Lal Chand, Mahesh Kumar, Shunila Ruth, also condemned the attack, terming it a conspiracy against the country. They said that the Constitution of Pakistan gave complete freedom to the minorities.

Also read: 12 K-P policemen dismissed in Karak Hindu temple attack case

Condemning the incident, MNA Riaz Mehmood Mazari demanded strict action against the culprits. Maulana Akbar Chitrali, Maulana Jamaluddin, Syed Naveed Qamar, Mehnaz Akbar, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Mohsin Dawar, Salahuddin Ayubi also condemned the incident.

Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari said that the prime minister took notice of the attack and directed the Punjab police chief to not only arrest the culprits but also look into police negligence in this matter. She said an FIR has been registered and the suspects are being arrested.

She added the prime minister had also assured to restore the temple at government expenses. She asked the opposition members not to do politics on such matters. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that all the people living in Pakistanis were Pakistanis.

Later State Minister Ali Muhammad Khan presented a resolution against the attack on the temple which was passed unanimously. He said that those behind the incident had nothing to do with Islam and humanity. He added the nation stood by the Hindu community in this hour of grief.

Also during the session, the House extended the Election Ordinance Second Amendment and Parental Protection Ordinance 2021 for 120 days. The report of the auditor general for 2020-21 was also tabled in the House.

During the Question Hour, the house was informed that street crimes in Islamabad had increased in 2021 compared to 2020. The interior ministry said that the crime rate had fallen by 50% after the formation of the Eagle Squad in the federal capital.

The ministry, in reply to another question, stated that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) system was completely secure and there was no incident of leak of information about citizens from the NADRA database.

During his speech, Murtaza Javed Abbasi spoke about the issue facing the overseas Pakistanis in the vaccination process. He also said crushing plants, allowed on other side of Margalla Hills, were damaging the environment as well as Khanpur dam.

Earlier, the House offered Fateha for the departed soul of former federal minister Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi and ANP leader Abdullah Kasi. The House also offered prayer for the early recovery of MNA Sher Akbar. The session was adjourned till Monday.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)