ISLAMABAD: The Senate resumed on Friday debate on the Peshawar school attack and condemned the incident in which 150 people, mostly students, were killed.

Senator Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party said that no example could be found in the world history like the massacre of innocent students in the terrorist attack on the Army Public School. He said leaders of his party had also been killed by terrorists and because of terrorism the party could not effectively run its election campaign last year.

He said terrorists had attacked government institutions, schools, markets and military institutions and killed innocent people.

Gas theft control and recovery bill passed

Senator Usman Saifullah condemned the attack and said it was the most tragic incident in the country’s history. “War against terrorism is our war and we have to win it.”

He said the chapter of good and bad Taliban should be closed and stern action be taken against them.

Senator Hamza said the entire nation was in a state of deep shock and sorrow, adding that the Christians across the world had also condemned the carnage on the Christmas day and prayed for the victims.

He said time was ripe for taking concrete measures to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed regretted that successive governments had failed to formulate a counter-terrorism strategy. He praised the present government for taking steps to deal with terrorists and said terrorism was an issue of the whole country and all political parties should come forward and solve this problem.

“People are fed up with terrorism and will no more tolerate it. People want decisive action against this menace,” he said.

Senator Saeeda Iqbal welcomed the government’s decision to set up special trial courts and said it would help speedy conviction of terror suspects.

GAS BILL: The Senate adopted the Gas Theft Control and Recovery Bill 2014.

The bill moved by Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi provides for prosecution of cases of gas theft and other related offences. It also envisages a procedure for recovery of outstanding amounts.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014