NA demands Dr Aafia's repatriation

ISLAMABAD â€" The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution for strongly condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions (Sahaba) in an Indian newspaper. In another resolution, the House demanded of the United States for immediate repatriation of Pakistani national Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
The Assembly demanded of the government to lodge a strong protest with the Indian government and summon Indian High Commissioner to register a strong protest.
The House deeply concerned over the arrest and detention of Dr Aafia and demanded to US government and to urgently provide necessary medical assistance to her if required.
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek moved the resolution about the blasphemous caricature and demanded of the Indian government to take strict action against the newspaper to prevent publication of such material in future.
The resolution on Dr Aafia, moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, expressed concern at her detention and called upon the government to take up the matter with the US authorities.
It called for full respect to Dr Aafia’s religious belief and immediate information on the whereabouts of her children and their immediate custody to the members of the family or Pakistani authorities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that all political parties and the Parliament should support the government for making policy to curb terrorism and maintain law and order in the country.
Prime Minster said this while speaking on the floor of the Lower House on law and order situation here on Thursday. “Terrorism is not the issue of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), rather it is the issue of all political parties, including that of the opposition, and we should join hands to get rid of the menace of terrorism,� he urged.
“The army can brief in camera to all political parties about the strategy of terrorism adopted by the government. We have to find solution for eliminating it,� he said.