The Punjab Assembly Friday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the acts of terrorism at Shangla, Kohat, Peshawar, FIA Building in Lahore, Manawan Police Training Centre, and Bedian Elite Training School.
The resolution, presented by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Senior Minister Raja Riaz, and Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, expressed sorrow over the casualties in the terrorist attacks and sympathised with the families of martyrs.
The resolution expressed solidarity with the Pakistan army, rangers, police and other law enforcement agencies. Lawmakers also offered Dua for the souls of the martyrs of the incidents. On a point of order Minister Nadeem Kamran maintained that there was no shortage of commodities, including sugar and wheat, in the province.
Legislator Ahmed Mahmood expressed reservations on the minister's comment and said sugar farmers were in trouble due to the policies of the government, and the next production of sugarcane would be expensive. On an adjournment motion by MPA Sh. Allaudin, the question of cousin marriage came up in the assembly. A legislator, speaking on the issue, talked of possible health hazards, including thalassemia.
Another member, however, said the occurrence of this disease was not always a possibility. On a query, Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman told the house that the recruitment of excise inspectors was being done through the Punjab Public Service Commission.
The Minister Tourism, on a question, said the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation introduced new trends in the country, adding that the PTDC was the first which introduced fleet of luxury buses. He said, as per the government policy since 1998 all bus terminals had been shifted outside the city and because of this factor, the PTDC had discontinued its service.
The Minister for Tourism pointed out that work on tourist resort Wagah had not yet been started and only fencing work had been completed. During the session women legislators staged a walk out over remarks of an MPA, however, they joined the assembly proceedings later. The house was adjourned till Monday.