By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution, condemning in the strongest words the tragic Gojra incident and demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits and compensation for the affected families of the Christian community.
Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi allowed clubbing of two separate resolutions moved by Minister for Minorities' Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and parliamentary leader of PML-Q Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat.
The resolution, while condemning the incident, demanded of the government to present an inquiry report into the incident before the House within seven days.The National Assembly asked the government that action should also be taken against police officials and the administration for committing criminal negligence and not acting timely to protect lives and property of the Christian community.
PML-Q parliamentarians, led by Faisal Saleh Hayat, walked out of the House as a protest against a violent incident in Gojra, which resulted in the death of seven members of the Christian community and loss to their property.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who also attended the session, assured the House that the resolution passed by the National Assembly would be fully implemented. He said he had talked to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who told him that a judicial inquiry would be conducted into the incident.
He said the government has always expressed solidarity with the minorities and has declared observance of minority week from August 5. He said specific orders have been given to both federal and provincial governments for damage assessment. "Our government has always supported efforts for the inter-faith harmony," the prime minister said.
Minister for Minorities' Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti said the local police acted as silent spectator while the houses of Christians were being burnt in Gojra. "The police arrived at the scene when seven members of a family had been burnt alive," he said.
While maintaining that no incident of blasphemy or desecration of Holy Qur'aan took place in Gojra, he termed violence against the Christian community a condemnable and shameful act. "The officials who committed criminal negligence should also be punished," he said.
He recalled that the Quaid-i-Azam in his maiden speech to the legislative assembly of Pakistan had stated that the minorities were equal citizens and enjoy equal rights in the country.
Asiya Nasir, the minority member from the JUI-F, said the Punjab government has failed to protect lives and property of minorities in the province. She accused the PML-N district president of involvement in the tragic incident.
The minority member said they would not allow the misuse of Article 295 (c) of the Constitution against minorities. "This is the worst incident of violation of human rights in the country," she said, adding the minorities all over the country would observe the minorities' day on August 11 as a "black day".
After speaking on the issue Asiya Nasir walked out of the House to protest against the Gojra incident. Marvi Memon of the PML-Q said the federal and provincial governments had prior intelligence reports of expected violence in Gojra but no precautionary measures were adopted. "This is an attempt to destabilise the country which should be exposed," she added.
Shireen Arshad of the PML-N, while defending her party's position, said the Punjab government was alive to the situation and an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.
Abdul Qadar Khanzada of the MQM condemned the incident on behalf of his party's Quaid, saying the incident occurred due to rising extremism and militancy in the country.
Kashmala Tariq of the PML-Q held the Punjab government responsible for the incident. She demanded formation of a fact-finding mission, headed by a judge of the Supreme Court, to hold a judicial inquiry.
Federal Minister Maulana Ataur Rehman said the desecration of Holy Qur'aan is a big crime but the murder of a human being is a much bigger criminal act in Islam. He termed the incident a conspiracy to malign the country and Islam.
Other parliamentarians, including Bushra Rehman, Farkhanda Wariach, Parvaiz Khan and Kamran Khan also spoke on the resolution.
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