ISLAMABAD - National Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution against Indian violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The House, with a thin presence of legislators from the either side of the isle, witnessed anti-Indian rhetoric against continued violation of the ceasefire agreement by Indian troops.
A resolution, moved by Defence Production Minister Rana Tanvir Hussain, paid rich tributes to Captain Sarfraz, who was martyred due to unprovoked shelling from Indian side in Skardu area’s Shaqma sector near the line of control.
"This House also prays for early recovery of the soldier injured on Tuesday [August 20, 2013]," said the resolution, condemning the act of aggression. It called for a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement, and said the people of Pakistan fully stand after their civil and military leadership to defend the territory of Pakistan. Legislators from both treasury and opposition strongly condemned Indian aggression on the line of control, and warned it of iron-fisted response from Pakistani side.
Taking the floor, Tahir Iqbal asked India to refrain from committing ceasefire violations. “Death of a Pakistani army official from unprovoked Indian shelling is not a minor issue,” he said. “At first they [India] should see their own house where voices of ‘state within state’ are being raised,” said Iqbal, a retired major. He however asserted Pakistan’s ablest armed forces were ready to accept and stand any challenge. He also smelt Indian role in brewing violence in Balochistan province. Iqbal said, "Pakistan has the ability to give a befitting response if it goes to war with India,” issuing caution that this war would not be limited.
Another legislator, Sajid Ahmed of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, paid a salute to the parents of martyred Captain Sarfraz. He said India should first address its poverty issue and learn to respect neighbours.
On his turn, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Tariqullah stated India should be warned against violation on the line of control. "Every time they fought with us, our armed forces defeated them," he recalled, and voiced his belief that India could never be Pakistan’s friend. Tariqullah also called on the Pakistani government to take a firm stand on the Kashmir issue; otherwise it would never be resolved.
Another MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi said India ought not to repeat such a mistake again or Pakistan’s tribal people would give it a tough time, let alone the entire Pakistani nation. "We are united; we are ready to make every sacrifice,'' affirmed Afridi. Later, the House was also informed about the current status of youtube a video-sharing website, which was blocked in October last year. In response to the concern raised by PML-MNA Awais Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman Khan the YouTube would be opened after the approval of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
Anusha Rehman said the govt had formed a 40-member committee that was working on the issue of website blockage. She said the ministry would submit these proposals to Inter-Ministerial Committee, which had the mandate to open the website.
About Inter-Ministerial Committee that blocked the video-sharing website, she said this committee consisted of members from different departments, including PTA, MoIT, Interior Ministry and ISI.
Elaborating its mechanism, she said a trial was conducted and four thousand URL were blocked successfully with the help of filters from PTCL. She further said that a response cell of PTA has also been directed to monitor blasphemous material.
The minister informed the House that Google refused to block URL containing blasphemous material with the plea that Google company could protect the followers of religion but not any religion.
Earlier, a legislator from opposition benches, Rai Hassan Nawaz, on a point of order, pointed out lack of quorum, but the House was found having the strength required to run the business.