KARACHI: Condemning the brutal repression and blatant violation of human rights in the India-held Jammu and Kashmir, the Sindh Assembly has called upon the UN and the international community to take notice of Indian barbarism and asked India to honour its commitment to the resolution of UN general assembly for holding plebiscite under the world body supervision.

The demand was made through one of the two resolutions which were carried with consensus when put to vote in the house by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani after speeches from lawmakers of the parliamentary parties.

The other resolution, which was tabled by senior minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, called upon the federal government to hold transparent and impartial inquiry into Panama Paper leaks to relieve the nation from the agony of confusion and disrespect.

PML-N lawmaker Sorath Thebo, who opposed the resolution in her speech, left the house when the resolution was put to vote. As no lawmaker opposed it, the house passed the resolution unanimously. Another resolution on the same subject, which was tabled by Khurram Sherzaman of the PTI, was ruled out of order and was rejected.

Indian atrocities in held Kashmir condemned

The resolution against Indian forces brutalities in the India-held Kashmir was tabled by PPP lawmaker Sharmila Farooqi and read out by Khairunisa Mughal. After their brief speeches, others including PPP lawmakers Sardar Ali Shah, Nasir Hussain Shah, Shamim Mumtaz, Taimur Talpur, Imdad Pitafi, MQM legislators Syed Sardar Ahmad, Rauf Siddiqui and Qamar Rizvi, PML-F lawmaker Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, PTI lawmaker Dr Seema Zia and Ms Thebo also expressed their views.

They warned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to misjudge the unity of Pakistan nation that was capable of responding to the Indian aggression.

The resolution read: “The house vehemently condemns the ongoing brutal repression, barbarism and severe human rights violation by Indian forces, in occupied Jammu & Kashmir over the past two months in which more than 100 Kashmiris have been brutally killed children, women, young and old innocent people have been blinded by the shotgun pellets and thousands of civilians have been injured by Indian brutal forces.”

The house paid tribute to the young freedom leaders who have bravely laid their lives for the Kashmir cause. “We salute the determination of mothers, wives and children who have stood fast against the brutalities of the Indian forces for their freedom.

“This house calls upon the UN and international legitimate community to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people, to call upon India to honour the resolution of the general assembly to release all Kashmiris political prisoners and to end all brutalities, aggression and human rights violation in the valley.”

The resolution on Panama Papers was passed when put to vote after brief speeches by Mr Khuhro, Ms Mughal, Mr Talpur, Mr Pitafi and other PPP lawmakers, while the lone PML-N lawmaker who had opposed the resolution left the house soon after the speech.

The resolution read: “Leaks in Panama Papers by an international investigative organisation has exposed the names of family members of the prime minister of Pakistan. This has brought bad name and disrespect to the nation and every individual citizen of the country. The issue had a paramount importance to be transparently inquired to clear the national image. But the government attitude has disappointed the nation and created further confusion in the hearts and minds of the people.”

The resolution added that Prime Minister Sharif was trying to hide himself behind his administrative apparatus to create a deliberate hindrance in impartial judiciary inquiry which was demand of the entire nation.

“The assembly resolves that a comprehensive, impartial, transparent inquiry in accordance with the terms of reference given by the opposition parties in the parliament be immediately conducted to take proper action and relieve the nation from agony of confusion and national disrespect.”

At the time of voting, two members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were present in the house while PML-N and PML-F lawmakers were not present in the house. When the opinion of the house was taken by the speaker, the resolution was not opposed by anyone.PTI lawmaker Khurram Sherzaman tabled a resolution asking the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to declare Prime Minister Sharif incompetent to meet the requirement of justice. The parliamentary affairs minister pointed out that the house could not make such demand from the Supreme Court. The resolution was ruled out of order and was rejected.

The speaker later adjourned the house till Tuesday at 10am.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2016