The National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed two resolutions separately, condemning the grave human rights violations by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir and killing of innocent children at Army Public School (APS) Peshawar a few years back. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan moved the resolutions on Occupied Kashmir and brutal killing of innocent children and teachers during the terrorist attack at APS Peshawar separately in the House.
The resolution expressed serious concern over the killing of 14 Kashmiris and injuring of 200 others by Indian security forces in Pulwama district. It saluted and expressed complete solidarity with brave Kashmiri people who have been engaged in peaceful protests to demand their right to self-determination. It said the brutal tactics of occupation authorities cannot deter Kashmiris for their genuine demand of freedom. It also welcomed the statement of OIC on the human rights situation in Occupied Kashmir. It urged the government of India to bring an end to all human rights violations and state terrorism, lift the restrictions on press and internet, and give the rights to people in Occupied Kashmir. The resolution reiterated that Pakistan will continue providing diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for freedom.
The House passed another resolution unanimously condemning the killing of innocent children at Army Public School Peshawar and reiterated to implement National Action Plan comprehensively.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said while speaking on the floor of the House that the nation is united to defeat the menace of terrorism. He said the tragic incident of terrorist attack on Army Public School Peshawar in 2014 brought the whole nation together to curtail this scourge. Pakistan Army launched successful operations against the hideouts of terrorists and successfully neutralised them. He said, "Our valiant security forces have made the country a cradle of peace due to their uncountable sacrifices."
The opposition leader expressed grave concern over the killing of 14 Kashmiris in Occupied Kashmir in the latest act of violence by the Indian security forces. He said that international community is silent over the cruelty and brutal killing of Kashmir people by Indian forces. He said the bloodbath of Kashmiris has been going on for decades and the criminal silence of international community on this issue is perplexing. He demanded the government to bring a solid policy to force India to stop its bloodshed in the Held Valley and give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. He assured opposition's full support to the government on this issue.
Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen M. Mazari said the PTI government will devise a comprehensive and robust policy to highlight the issue of Kashmir at every international forum. She lamented, "Our Kashmir policy has not been vibrant for the last many years, due to which India could not be pressurised effectively." She said successive governments did not raise this issue vociferously at the relevant international forums. She said that the report of UN Human Rights Office on human rights violations is a welcoming development and it was long overdue. She said, "We must give the world a conflict resolution model to resolve the decades' long issue."
Speaking in the House, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said political parties across the divide are united in condemning the gross human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. He said the PPP leadership always raised the issue of Kashmir very strongly.
Referring to war on terror, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said the APS incident can never be forgotten in which innocent children were martyred by terrorists. He said his party has a clear stance against the scourge of terrorism as the former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was martyred in a terrorist attack. He said Pakistani nation is brave and resilient and will successfully defeat this evil.
Later the opposition parties also staged a walkout from the House in protest for not issuing production order for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique by the Speaker National Assembly.
Opposition Leader Mian Shehbaz Sharif reminded Speaker Asad Qaiser of his promise of not disappointing the members of the House regarding production order of Saad Rafique. He said that six days have been passed but production order has not been issued so far.
The speaker replied that he was looking into the matter.
The House also passed amendment in the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the National Assembly. According to the amendment, national anthem would be played after 'Naat' in the House.
The third quarterly report of the Board of Director of the State Bank of Pakistan on the State of Economy for the year 2017-18 and the reports of the Auditor General, thereon, for Audit year 2017-18 were also presented in the House.