PESHAWAR: Boycott of European goods demanded: Data of losses in Hangu blast being collected: CM
By Mohammed Riaz
PESHAWAR, March 11: The NWFP lawmakers, through a unanimously adopted resolution, demanded that the federal government should boycott goods from Denmark and other European countries, whose newspapers, had made a mockery of freedom of speech and carried sacrilegious cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Abdul Akbar Khan of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian tabled a joint resolution endorsed by the parliamentary leaders of the opposition parties and treasury benches, calling upon Islamabad to register a strong protest with the European Union by severing trade ties with its member states. The EU stance on the blasphemy issue has hurt the Muslim across the world and it might widen the gulf between the Muslims and the Christians, it added.
This sacrilegious attitude, resolution adds, would pave way for a clash between religions and civilisations. The house asked the European Union to review its stand and stop lending a political support to the culprits involved in the blasphemous act.
Speaking on the issue, parliamentary leaders of both sides of the house said it was a matter of life and death for the Muslims.
Earlier, Yasmin Khalid, Sabira Shakir, Zobaida Khatoon, Fauzia Farrukh, Shagufta Naz, Aftab Shabbir, Nargas Zain and Muzaffar Said tabled a joint adjournment motion, demanding a debate on the sacrilegious issue. After admitting the motion, the house got it converted into a joint resolution and adopted it unanimously.
The house also adopted another resolution demanding holding of Senate elections through a show-of-hand to end horse-trading. Bashir Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party read out the resolution, signed by the parliamentary leaders of the opposition and treasury benches.
Except, Qazi Mohammad Asad Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), all other MPAs endorsed and adopted it. When Speaker Bakht Jahan Khan announced that the resolution was passed unanimously, Qazi Asad quickly rose into his seat and said: “I oppose it, as it is unconstitutional. If this house wants to stop the exercise of horse-trading it should ask the Centre to hold direct elections for the Senate”. His fellow PML (Q) lawmakers, however, endorsed the resolution.
Earlier, on a point of order Atiqur Rehman from Hangu drew the attention of the house towards a violent incident in his district on 10th of Muharram in which 40 people were killed and 60 others were injured. Besides this carnage, he said the arsonists set the entire baazar on fire, which engulfed shops and markets, leaving hundreds of people without any business, he added.
He demanded an early payment of compensation to the affected families and shopkeepers. Endorsing demand of his party comrade, Bashir Ahmed Bilour also regretted the law and order situation in the province and asked the government to restore its confidence among the people. Anwar Kamal of the PML (N) also lashed out at the MMA government for deteriorating law and order situation across the province.
Clarifying government position, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said soon after this suicidal incident the government had ordered separate — judicial and police — inquiries to establish the causes behind the incident. He said: “I have arranged a chopper to airlift injured from Hangu and admit them in Kohat and other hospitals. I have sent information minister Asif Iqbal to Kohat. He visited the injured and inquired about treatment.”
He said the government had announced payment of Rs100,000 to the family of each dead and Rs50,000 to the each injured person. A committee, he said, was collecting data about the losses of the property of shopkeepers and stocks of traders.
Mr Durrani said, police had arrested scores of miscreants involved in ransacking of shops and trade centres on Feb 15 in the city and recovered TV and mobile sets and computers from the detainees. The culprits involved in destruction of Daewoo bus terminal would be booked very soon, he added.
About the rehabilitation of earthquake survivors, he said the government was in touch with central relief, rehabilitation and repatriation agencies on this issue.
Later, the speaker adjourned the house till Monday.
