Parliament aflame with unity, pride

Lawmakers across the aisle rally behind military, condemn Indian aggression

ISLAMABAD:

An air of pride and steely resolve swept through the National Assembly on Wednesday as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle closed ranks to denounce India's reckless midnight misadventure, calling it the act of a regime drunk on its own delusions.

In fiery speeches, they hailed Pakistan's armed forces for delivering a blow in the early hours of Wednesday that the enemy neither anticipated nor could withstand, turning a night of provocation into a morning of reckoning.

Addressing the NA session convened in the wake of the Indian air strikes, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked that India, intoxicated by the pride of its Rafale jets - which Pakistan had downed in a spectacular display of valour — received a "resounding reply" from Pakistan's armed forces following the attempted air incursion.

"We exercised restraint, we could have downed ten aircraft," he said, adding that those who doubted Pakistan's conventional capabilities were now jolted into sense.

"The Pakistan Armed Forces delivered a crushing response," the prime minister said. "On that dark night when India launched a cowardly assault, our military turned it into a moonlit one."

Lawmakers across party lines, including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Zartaj Gul, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Senator Ishaq Dar and PTI's Barrister Gohar, delivered impassioned speeches lauding the armed forces and condemning Indian aggression.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with our forces," the prime minister declared, who revealed that the Indian assault involved nearly 80 fighter jets. "Our eagles were fully prepared. As soon as India dropped its payload, our hawks struck and brought down five jets."

PM Shehbaz also recounted a pattern of provocation. He said that on April 22, a terrorist attack in India-held Pahalgam was swiftly blamed on Pakistan, within ten minutes of the incident, and used as pretext for military aggression.

"They accused us without evidence. Meanwhile, in the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express, we possess undeniable proof of Indian links," he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan had offered international investigations into the Pahalgam incident but India rebuffed the gesture.

"Our air force was on alert around the clock. India may flaunt its Rafales, but wisdom and courage determine victory, not expensive machines. I salute Air Chief Zaheer Babar and our brave pilots."

The prime minister added that the operation's restraint was deliberate. "We brought down five jets, it could have been ten. But our falcons exercised prudence."

Calling for political reconciliation, he said, "I am ready to meet all colleagues, even in their chambers. This is the only way forward to make Pakistan a great nation."

'No longer 2001 or 2003'

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also addressed the house, reaffirming condolences over the loss of civilian lives in the Indian strikes. "The martyrs included women and children. These deaths did not occur in the course of battle but due to India's brutal aggression," he said.

"Only thieves and cowards attack under the cover of night," Bilawal said. "Had they any courage, they would have attacked in daylight and faced our soldiers. Instead, they targeted children."

He added: "It's no longer 2001 or 2003. The world won't accept terrorists being defined solely by religion. For two weeks we patiently tolerated false accusations. Islamabad knew it was innocent and demanded neutral investigations."

Calling Kashmir a just cause, Bilawal said: "We stand with truth and justice, backed by international law and UN resolutions. India stands with lies and deceit. We will unmask its true face to the world." He praised the Pakistan Air Force for shooting down Indian jets "like mosquitoes" and reiterated that Pakistan would continue responding in kind.

"India may be bigger in population and wealth, but as they say, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall'."

"Pakistan hasn't fully responded yet. But when it does, it will be within the bounds of international law and the UN Charter. We reserve the right to respond at a time and place of our choosing," he warned.