ISLAMABAD -  The National Assembly Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the ‘so-called’ capital of Israel and to move its embassy to the city.

Demanding the US to immediately take back its decision, the resolution moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Barjees Tahir, considered it a direct attack on the Muslim Ummah at a time when the Middle East is already beset with wars and conflicts.

“The US move is also a violation of international law, UN Security Council resolutions, namely resolutions No.252 (1968), 267 (1969), 476 and 478 (1980),including the recent resolution 2334 (2016) and global consensus on how to resolve the Palestine conflict”.

It also endorses the final communiqué of the OIC in Jaddah December 4, 2017 and calls on the government to immediately mobilise the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) into taking concrete diplomatic steps against this US action.

US President Donald Trump Thursday defied overwhelming global opposition and recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He directed the state department to shift the US embassy from Tel Aviv.

The lawmakers from both sides of aisle with the thin presence from both sides passed the resolution. The house, during the discussion on the issue, adjourned due to lack of quorum as nearly 50 MNAs were present in the house, as even the mover of the resolution also left the house.

The MNAs, taking part in discussion, were of the view that Muslim Ummah should show unity to compel US to take its decision back. Some of them stressed the need not to make it an issue of only Muslim Ummah rather other should also be involved. All Muslim should show its feelings to ‘rogue Trump’.

PPP’ Naveed Qamar , taking part in discussion, said all Muslim countries should take a same stance sans any differentiation of Sunni and Shia. “We condemned the act of US and it should be reversed,” said Qamar, mentioning that it would have dire consequences. US president has damaged the efforts of peace process by some of the countries.

PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on his turn, said Prime Minister should move in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strongly present country’s stance.“Pakistan should play it role for pressurising the US to review and reverse its decision,” he said.

Minister for Postal Services/ JUI-F MNA Maulana Ameer Zaman came up with a stern suggestion including boycott of American products. “It is a challenge for Muslims so all Muslim countries need to take strong actions,” he said, mentioning that Muslim countries need to expel American ambassadors to give a strong message. America, he said, has violated the international law by its decision.

MQM’s Khalid Maqbol, on his turn, said that all Muslim countries should unanimously take a decision. “A strong message should be given in OIC,” he said.

Sahibzada Tariq Ullah from Jamaat-e-Islami said the previous presidents of US including Bush, Obama, Clinton had not dared to take this decision. “It was demonstration of enmity with Islam,” he said suggesting to strongly raise the issue in OIC.

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour from ANP said this issue should not be confined to Muslim Ummah as it needs to make it an issue of the world.

Mehmood Bashir Virk, from PML-N MNA, said it was not the decision of only Trump. “It was the decision of American nation, as they had selected Trump as President,” he said. 

Whereas, PkMAP Chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that there was a need to wait for the decision of OIC before indulging in any debate. “It is a complicated matter we need to see it carefully,” he said.

“The resolutions of parliament are useless if it could not save the constitution. What will be the sanctity of Assembly’s resolution, when the people do not have any respect of parliament,” he remarked.

PTI’s Shireen Mazari, at the fag end of proceedings, pointed out quorum when she was not given the floor as the chair invited PTI’s dissident member Dawar Kundi to speak. On it, the chair (deputy speaker) due to lack of required strength abruptly adjourned the proceedings.