LAHORE - A resolution was unanimously passed in Punjab Assembly yesterday, condemning the suicide attack at Gulshan-e-Iqbal that claimed 72 lives and injured more than 300 innocent people including women and children.
The PA session witnessed rare scene of both the treasury and opposition becoming one voice on terrorism, which is a national issue.
Proceedings started one hour and 35 minutes beyond the scheduled time with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in the chair.
After suspension of rules, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah presented the resolution that was unanimously adopted by the House. The resolution condemned the barbaric act and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives and injuries to more than 300 innocent people.
Terming the suicide attack an act of cowardice that targeted innocent women and children coming to the park for recreation. The House prayed for the dead, expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and early recovery of injured.
Also the House assured full support to the security agencies in the fight against terrorists and their facilitators, besides praying for the success of ongoing operations against terrorism.
Taking part in the debate, Rana Sanaullah said that the ongoing operations would be made more effective and speedy. He said that terrorists and their facilitators deserve no leniency, adding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has assured provision of all possible resources to the Punjab government.
“There is no option except victory in war against terror,” the minister said, adding that the bomber who hit the park had not come from tribal areas. “There must be local people who provided shelter to the terrorist,” the minister told the House.
He further said that the security agencies were investigating and details would be shared with the nation.
Sana was all praise for the security forces for eliminating safe havens of terrorists in the country. He shared details of operations carried out by law enforcement agencies in the province. Some 410 highly suspect were detained while five killed for offering resistance, he added.
Opposition Leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said the opposition was standing with the government in a difficult war. He termed the Gulshan-e-Iqbal attack a huge tragedy, and a major security lapse. He said that lack of implementation of all points of National Action Plan was resulting in such unfortunate incidents.
The PTI leader stressed the need of putting all differences aside and uniting on one agenda of rooting out the menace of terrorism.
However, he appreciated the security agencies for arresting a high-profile Indian spymaster from Balochistan. Mehmood said that no pressure should be taken and the world should be shown the actual face of India.
PTI legislator Mian Aslam Iqbal said that it was unfortunate that the Punjab was not implementing the National Action Plan like it was being done in the other provinces. Pointing out the absence of Chief Minister in the House and Home Secretary and IGP in the officials gallery, he said no other work was important than the proceedings of the representative assembly of 100 million people.
Dr Waseem Akhtar, Qazi Ahmed Saeed, Faiza Malik, Hina Pervaiz Butt, Shenila Ruth, Dr Farzana Nazir, Sibtain Khan, Shehzad Munshi, Mian Rafiq and Sadia Sohail also expressed their views on Gulshan-e-Iqbal tragedy.