- Lawmakers slam India for continuing with ceasefire violations
- Warn India Pakistan ready to respond to all forms of aggression
Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide on Thursday joined hands to condemn in strongest terms the hegemonic designs of Indian military and its unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani territory that left a Pakistani captain martyred and injured another soldier.
The same day, the federal cabinet also decided to revive disbanded National Security Council – a measure reflecting growing confidence between the civil and military administration of the country.
During the proceedings of the House, the lawmakers from all political forces resorted to bash the hegemonic designs of the Indian regime and asked the government to ask the neighbours to behave and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.
With the unanimous adoption of a resolution, the National Assembly sent a strong message to the Indian regime and the rest of the world of unity by passing yet another unanimous resolution to denounce the Indian aggression.
This was a second successive condemnatory resolution within a fortnight’s time – a rare example in the country’s parliamentary history which reflected how much the Indian army’s jingoism had hurt the resolve of the newly-elected government in Pakistan to normalise relations with its archrival India, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had time and again reiterated his resolve to cementing cordiality of economic and friendly ties with India.
Earlier, the House passed a resolution against India on August 13 followed by another resolution adopted by Senate on August 19.
The resolution, moved by Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Hussain, condemned the “unprovoked shelling” Indian Army at Shaqma sector near Skardu on the LoC in which Captain Sarfraz was martyred while another soldier was injured.
The resolution expressed serious concerns over the continued violation of the ceasefire on the LoC by the Indian Army and demanded constructive and result-oriented process of engagement to de-escalate.
The House paid rich tributes to Captain Sarfraz and prayed for early and complete recovery of the injured soldier. The resolution added that the people of the country stood behind the civil and military leadership to defend the territories of the country.
It further said that the people of Pakistan fully stood behind their civil and military leadership to defend the territory of Pakistan.
The legislators from both sides strongly condemned the Indian aggression on recent violation on LoC.
Speaking over the issue, Major (r) Tahir Iqbal said India should refrain from committing such violations on the LoC as this was not a minor issue in which Pakistani Captain Sarfraz embraced martyrdom.
“There are voices being raised of a state within the state of India. The Indian regime should set their own House in order,” he said, adding that the Pakistan Army was always ready to accept challenges and it had all the ability to give a tough time to any adversary. He also referred to the India’s role behind the law and order in Balochistan.
“If Pakistan and India engulf in another war, Pakistan has all the ability to give proper response to the enemy,” he said, cautioning that this war would not be limited to the LoC.
Sajid Ahmed, a legislator from the MQM, said India should first end poverty in the country. “Neighbours should respect each other,” he said, and said the nation saluted the parents of Captain Sarfraz.
Tariqullah from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) warned India to refrain from violation of the LoC or be ready for dire consequences. He was of the view that India could never be a friend of Pakistan.
PTI MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi said India should not repeat its mistake again as Pakistani people from the Tribal Areas could give a befitting response to Indian aggression. “Pakistani nation is united and is ready to offer any sacrifice,’’ he added.
Prayers were also said for the departed Captain Sarfraz.
YouTube:
The House was also informed about the current status of YouTube, which was blocked in September 2012.
Responding to the concern raised by PML-MNA Awais Leghari over not opening the site, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman Khan said YouTube would be opened after the approval of the inter-ministerial committee formed to finalise its recommendations about the handling of blasphemous material on the site.
The minister said the PML-N government was working on the subject. She said the ministry would submit these proposals to the inter-ministerial committee, which has been mandated to decide whether or not to unblock the website.
While elaborating the mechanism, the minister said a trial was conducted and 4,000 URLs were blocked successfully with the help of filters produced by the PTCL.
The minister further informed the House that Google had refused to block the URLs containing blasphemous material with the plea that the company could protect the followers of all religions but not any specific religion.