The late anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. PHOTO: AFP
Members of the upper and lower houses of parliament paid moving tribute to iconic anti-apartheid, freedom fighter and South African president Nelson Mandela, who passed away after a protracted illness.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz moved the resolution. Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi left the regular agenda appearing on the Orders of the Day unaddressed and adopted a Supplementary Resolution paying tributes to the services of the South African statesman considered an icon for freedom and democracy.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, speaking on a point of order, paid tributes to the services of the deceased for the cause of democracy. Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah also eulogised the services of late South African leader, who stood for the rights of the oppressed and the deprived.
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that throughout his life Mandela fought for the rights of people and never compromised on principles.
The House also offered ‘fateha’ for ex-minister Syed Amir Haider Kazmi, who died on December 5. Later the proceedings were adjourned till Monday.
Senate passes resolution
The Senate joined the world in mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. Suspending routine legislative business of the House, senators passed a unanimous resolution paying tributes to Mandela’s services to humankind.
“Pakistan had been at the forefront to dismantle the apartheid and Nelson Mandela appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in this regard,” said the resolution moved by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
He was the person who always stood for honour, dignity and rights of the oppressed people wherever they were in the world. The resolution recalled that Mandela twice visited Pakistan and during his second visit he also addressed the joint sitting of parliament.
The senators observed a minute’s silence for Mandela and offered prayers.
“Through his efforts, Mandela made one nation out of two peoples. He was the biggest advocate of reconciliation and non-violence,” said Senate Chairman Nayar Hussain Bukhari. He praised Mandela’s efforts for democracy which was a beacon for the countries that were struggling for blossoming of democracy.
The senators said Mandela’s influence was widespread. He would be remembered for a long time as a role-model for all politicians and public servants as well as humanity at large. Mandela was one of those few human beings who actually change the course of history, said the senators.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2013.
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“Pakistan had been at the forefront to dismantle the apartheid and Nelson Mandela appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in this regard,” said the resolution moved by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz."
This is a self praising and imaginary statement and a total lie.
Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid and is also known for his "Truth and Reconciliation"
In Pakistan, ever since its creation, its hindu, ahmedi and christian population have always been apartheid in every possible way and today even shias face the same. In South Africa it was the minority practicing these evils on the majority and in Pakistan, to make it worse, it is the majority of the population who are practicing it on the minority. Can Pakistan ever have an honest and sincere "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" like South Africa and find out the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on the forced and raped conversion of several hundred thousands of hindu girls. All records of the past and the present are readily available in the Government's own NADRA records. No one in Pakistan will ever go that way or support it as they all know the truth and are ashamed to face it. Pakistan is the only country in the entire world that preaches and practices rapes to please Allah. No other country, even any other muslim country does these. These are still going on and are just increasing by the day. Worst still is that the woman of the society indulge, and praise in these acts in their own family homes. The media glorifies and the Chief Justice praises these acts. No politician even Oxford educated ever took up this matter. Pakistan has fallen to such low levels that it can never recover on morality or ethics. This country has brought such a bad name to Islam as no other. I would not even talk of the hate literature in school text books that are also increasing by the day.