ISLAMABAD - National Assembly (NA) on Thursday unanimously adopted two resolutions calling upon the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab to form a judicial commission to probe the fire tragedies.
In the second resolution the House unanimously condemned the airing of defamatory video clip in the US, maligning the revered and pious personality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on the eve of 11th September, 2012.
“Such actions, synchronised with commemoration of atrocious events like 9/11, provoke hatred, discord and enmity within societies and between people of various faiths. The event has deeply hurt the feeling of the people of Pakistan and Muslims all over the world. Pakistan is a strong proponent of inter-faith harmony and believes that all manifestations of extremist tendencies must be opposed,” according to the adopted resolution.
The legislators across the political divide strongly condemning the defamatory video clip said this has deeply hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and Muslims all over the world. They said that not only a letter should be written to United Nations (UN) about this defamatory film but also its publication be banned immediately.
According to the resolution about tragic incidents happened in Karachi and Lahore, presented by Law Minister Farooq H Naek, responsibility should be fixed on those responsible for happening of tragic incidents for providing insufficient facilities to the employees and not implementing relevant rules and laws.
Declaring it as ‘national disaster’, the resolution also urged to fix responsibility on government servants for not enforcing and implementing rules and laws in letter and spirit. “There is also need for carrying out necessary legislation, if there is need to do so, to prevent future tragedies like this,” it added.
The resolution also emphasised to order and direct registration of necessary FIR against culprits in order to bring them to justice. It further recommended to grant necessary compensation to the heirs of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured in these incidents.
Speaking on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan said forming a commission to ascertain the reason was not the final solution as proper planning should be made to avoid such incidents in future. “Incumbent government should give a proper program to control such kind of sad incidents,” he said, adding that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) should be made more effective to avoid such happenings.
Talking about defamatory film, he said this film has deeply hurt the feeling of the people of Pakistan and Muslims all over the world. “When people go for protest against such kind of incidents they are called militants,” Nisar said, arguing that what about those who were killed in drone strikes. “You make sacrilegious cartoon and films and term it as freedom of expression...But in some of European countries Muslims are not allowed to even say prayer outside,” he said while drawing a comparison. He further said Nato supply line was restored but incumbent government had not shared MoU with parliament.
Taking part in debate, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira strongly condemned desecration of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in an inflammatory and derogatory film. They respect religions of other and same they expect from others, he added. Minister informed the house about strong protest lodged by the Foreign Office (FO) on this blasphemous act. In response to Ch Nisar’s point about Nato supply, he said supply routes were opened in line with the recommendations of the parliamentary committee.
PML-N senior legislator Khawaja Saad Rafique, on a point of order, said provincial assemblies could not be free of charges on these sad incidents. “There is need to set priorities to avoid such incidents,“ he said, adding that industries in residential areas should be relocated gradually.
Pakistan Mulsim League-Q MNA Bhadar Khan Sehar, on another point of order, speaking on same issue said there was a need to seek solution of the issues. “Trade unions should be made effective,” he said, adding that management of the factories are bound to install all necessary gadgets for fire fighting.
Speaking on the same issue MQM senior lawmaker Haider Abbas Rizvi, on a point of order, said responsibility should be fixed as innocent mostly labour class people lost their lives in these sad incidents both in Karachi and Lahore. Condemning the defamatory film, he said feelings and emotions of other religions should be respected.  JUI-F senior legislator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman strongly condemning the defamatory film said Muslim Ummah should jointly register a protest on it. Other legislators including Akram Maseeh Gil, Dr Nelson also strongly condemned the film and said that responsible should be punished to avoid such incidents in future.
Amid scathing criticism from Opposition benches over the absence of ministers, the lawmakers demanded suspension of National Assembly proceedings till ministers’ presence in the House.
Speaking on a point of order, PML-N legislator Barjees Tahir said attendance in the House was thin and no minister was present to respond their queries.
“If lack of interest by the government in running the House has reached such a proportion why the assembly is not dissolved and new elections are held,” he demanded.
Opposition benches raised the quorum issue which was ignored by the chair. Minority member Kishan Chand Parwani staged a walkout saying the House was being run in a wrong manner.