The National Assembly on Monday condemned the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and members also suggested the government different plausible ways to help the victims and increase pressure on Naypyidaw to stop the genocide. Speaking on an adjournment motion in the House, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari urged the government to stop selling weapons to Myanmar until they take cogent steps to stop the genocide of Rohingyas.
She also suggested the government to move the United Nations for economic sanctions against Myanmar; so that the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas can be stopped. "The Muslim countries should accept the Rohingyas as refugees and help them financially and morally at all available forums," she said, questioning the indifferent role of rich and powerful Gulf countries in alleviating sufferings of Rohingyas.
Emir JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman lambasted the alleged silence of human rights organisations and activists in face of atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. He said that Myanmar has rescinded nationality of around 1.2 million Muslims in through a piece of legislation, but the human rights organisations have failed to ask the Myanmar government to take back the inhuman decision.
Rehman said that the United States and other countries should play the same role as they did in Sudan by creating a separating country for the Christians there. "A global cold war has also started and Pakistan is being destabilised due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," he said, adding that Pakistan should help Rohingya Muslims at diplomatic and strategic level.
He said that Pakistan should also take steps to provide food and shelter to the displaced Rohingyas like Turkey is doing in Bangladesh. About the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), he said that it has become a useless organisation and Pakistan should not look towards it. Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamaat-e-Islami said that the National Assembly and Senate passed separate resolutions on the plight of Rohingyas in June 2015, but unfortunately they were never implemented.
"This resolution will also be a waste of time if not implemented in letter and spirit," he said, while pointing out thin attendance of members and absence of ministers from the House. He suggested the government to create a special fund for Rohingyas and all members should donate their one month salary for it. Chairman Pakistan Muslim League-Zia, Ejaz-ul-Haq said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi should raise the issue in his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly.
He also urged the Prime Minister to announce formation of a special fund for the Rohingya Muslims. Pakistan Peoples Party member Shazia Mari said this is a humanitarian issue and should not be looked from the lens of a specific religion. She also criticized the Myanmar's Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi for turning a blind eye to the atrocities being committed by her army against the Rohingya Muslims. Marri suggested the government to send a parliamentary delegation to Myanmar and Bangladesh to ascertain the facts behind the genocide and then inform the Parliament about the real picture. The debate on the issue would now resume on Wednesday (tomorrow) and the Lower House will also pass a motion on it.