Punjab Assembly: Members vow to join hands to defeat terrorism
Resolution condemning Peshawar attack passed unanimously.
LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar in which at least 130 children were killed.
The session that started with a delay of more than two hours on Tuesday lasted only a few minutes.
The session, originally scheduled for Monday, had been postponed in view of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s call for shut-down of the city.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani chaired the session. He read out the resolution that he said should be considered as passed unanimously.
The resolution expressed grief over the attack. It said people of the Punjab stood by victims and their families in their hour of grief.
“This is one of the worst terrorist incidents to have taken place in Pakistan.” It called for bringing to book those responsible for the barbaric act.
The resolution said religious and political parties should join hands and support the Zarb-i-Azb campaign.
The House paid tribute and offered prayers for those killed while fighting the terrorists.
Gorchani announced a three-day mourning and postponed the session until Friday.
Former law minister Rana Sanaullah later told the media it appeared that the Peshawar attack was in reaction to Zarb-i-Azb. He said the Punjab government had extended support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He said it was time for leaders of all political parties to join hands to ensure that no such attack took place in the future.
He said the government had announced Rs500,000 each for the families of those killed and Rs200,000 each for the injured.
Government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri said the incident had left the nation in deep pain and sorrow.
“Instead of scoring points we should all unite,” he said. He welcomed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s announcement regarding postponement of their call for the countrywide shut-down on December 18.
Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had asked Home Minister Shuja Khanzada and Food Minister Bilal Yasin to visit Peshawar and condole with the victim families.
He said the Punjab government had decided on three days of mourning.
Reactions
“We condemn the attack in the strongest terms. What we have witnessed today was extreme cruelty,” said Jamaat-i-Islami MPA Syed Waseem Akhtar.
“All political parties and the army should sit together and find a solution to the crisis,” he told The Express Tribune.
Akhtar stressed the need for determining flaws in the security regime that had led to the incident. He called for revisiting the national security policy.
“We should stand united in these difficult times and focus on how to rid the country of terrorism,” Khadija Umer said.
She urged political parties to overcome their differences and instead join hands against those destabilising the country.
Kanwal Nauman burst into tears while speaking about the incident. She said those responsible for the attack should be brought to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.
The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar in which at least 130 children were killed.
The session that started with a delay of more than two hours on Tuesday lasted only a few minutes.
The session, originally scheduled for Monday, had been postponed in view of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s call for shut-down of the city.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani chaired the session. He read out the resolution that he said should be considered as passed unanimously.
The resolution expressed grief over the attack. It said people of the Punjab stood by victims and their families in their hour of grief.
“This is one of the worst terrorist incidents to have taken place in Pakistan.” It called for bringing to book those responsible for the barbaric act.
The resolution said religious and political parties should join hands and support the Zarb-i-Azb campaign.
The House paid tribute and offered prayers for those killed while fighting the terrorists.
Gorchani announced a three-day mourning and postponed the session until Friday.
Former law minister Rana Sanaullah later told the media it appeared that the Peshawar attack was in reaction to Zarb-i-Azb. He said the Punjab government had extended support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He said it was time for leaders of all political parties to join hands to ensure that no such attack took place in the future.
He said the government had announced Rs500,000 each for the families of those killed and Rs200,000 each for the injured.
Government spokesperson Zaeem Qadri said the incident had left the nation in deep pain and sorrow.
“Instead of scoring points we should all unite,” he said. He welcomed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s announcement regarding postponement of their call for the countrywide shut-down on December 18.
Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had asked Home Minister Shuja Khanzada and Food Minister Bilal Yasin to visit Peshawar and condole with the victim families.
He said the Punjab government had decided on three days of mourning.
Reactions
“We condemn the attack in the strongest terms. What we have witnessed today was extreme cruelty,” said Jamaat-i-Islami MPA Syed Waseem Akhtar.
“All political parties and the army should sit together and find a solution to the crisis,” he told The Express Tribune.
Akhtar stressed the need for determining flaws in the security regime that had led to the incident. He called for revisiting the national security policy.
“We should stand united in these difficult times and focus on how to rid the country of terrorism,” Khadija Umer said.
She urged political parties to overcome their differences and instead join hands against those destabilising the country.
Kanwal Nauman burst into tears while speaking about the incident. She said those responsible for the attack should be brought to justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.