News
Friday, June 04, 2010
Parliament passes resolutions to condemn Israeli brutalities
* Both houses seek proactive role from all Muslim states
* National Assembly passes resolution condemning twin attacks against AhmedisBy Zeeshan Javaid and Tahir Niaz
ISLAMABAD: Both houses of parliament on Thursday passed unanimous resolutions strongly condemning the state brutalities of Israel against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and called upon the international Muslim community to approach the International Criminal Court against Tel Aviv over its inhumane act.
Senate began its 62nd session with Farooq H Naik in the chair and suspended the agenda items as decided in the Business Advisory Committee, aimed at taking up the resolution moved by Leader of the House Nayyar Bokhari, which was later unanimously adopted.
Earlier, the recently elected senator from Sindh, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, took oath as member of the Upper House. Senate strongly condemned Israeli state aggression against more than 700 peace activists in the aid flotilla, who were attacked by Tel Aviv’s commandoes on their way to Gaza with the consignments of food and medicine for the besieged Palestinians.
Lauded: The House lauded the bold steps taken by the Turkish government on the issue and also sought a similar proactive role from other Muslim states.
The senators also lauded the role of Talat Hussain, the executive director of a private television channel, and the other two Pakistanis who not only braved the Israeli attack, but also effectively represented Pakistan.
Initiating debate, Leader of Opposition Wasim Sajjad said it was not for the first time that Israel had resorted to state terrorism against the Palestinian people. He called upon the international community to bring Israel before the ICC so that it could be held accountable for the genocide. Senator Raza Rabbani termed Israel’s action a ‘cowardly act’ and urged the United Nations to play its due role and hold Tel Aviv accountable.
Condemning the Israeli attack, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Raja Zafarul Haq urged all Muslim countries to refuse to recognise Israel as a state and call back their ambassadors from the country just as Turkey had done.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri appreciated the Turkish government decision to send humanitarian assistance for the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza.
He called upon the UN to take practical steps to put an end to Israeli state aggression. Awami National Party parliamentarian Haji Adeel said Israel’s attack on the Gaza Fleet Flotilla is a violation of international laws, and called upon the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to take a unified stand against Tel Aviv.
Other senators who spoke on the issue include Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati, Tariq Azeem, Sabir Ali Baloch, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani, Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, Pervez Rashid, Surriya Ameeruddin, Naeem Hussain Chatha, Zafar Ali Shah, Professor Sajid Mir and Haji Lashkari Raisani.
Separately, the National Assembly unanimously passed two resolutions, condemning the Israeli state terrorism and the organised terrorist attack on the Ahmedi community in Lahore respectively.
Member of National Assembly (MNA) Zahid Hamid read out the first resolution, which condemned the ‘blatant act of terrorism against the Freedom Flotilla carrying relief goods for the Palestinians’. The resolution termed the Israeli aggression a ‘crime against humanity’. The resolution expressed support for the Palestinians and asked the government to seek the intervention of the UN, the Arab countries block and the OIC to help lift the blockade on Gaza.
Protection: In the other resolution read out by Pakistan People’s Party MNA Sherry Rehman, the Lower House condemned the attack on the Ahmedi community in Lahore and demanded the government ensure protection of the lives and property of the minorities’ community in the country. Both the resolutions were passed unanimously.
Earlier, replying to a call attention notice, MNA Malik Ammad Khan said the attack reflected the typical ‘Israeli highhandedness’.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk