LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly remembered on Friday martyrs of the Army Public School (APS) and asked the federal government to start observing Dec 16 as ‘National Day against Terrorism and Extremism’.

In a joint resolution, both the treasury and the opposition, the anniversary of the tragedy, which falls on Sunday, is a day to pay tribute to the martyrs and their families and also renew the determination to deal with twin menace.

The resolution was originally initiated by PML-N’s Hina Parvaiz, which the treasury also supported and offered to make it joint resolution, adding Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat as co-signatory to it.

“Though four years have passed since the tragedy, wounds and memories are still fresh,” reads the resolution.

“This house not only stands with the families of victims and prays for the departed souls but also requests the federal government to declare it (Dec 16) as national day against terrorism and extremism. This house salutes those enforcers who laid their lives and requests whole nation to stand united against the twin menace”.

Though resolution on the APS sailed smoothly, it was not the case with an earlier resolution praising, what the mover – Uizma Kardar – called it a diplomatic victory of the PTI government. The words ‘diplomatic victory’ irked the opposition when Ms Kardar read her resolution, which was taken out of turn by suspending normal business of the house.

“This house congratulates the federal government on a huge diplomatic victory which it won when the US had to withdraw the name of Pakistan from a list of those countries where religious exploitation is reported. The withdrawal after a hectic diplomatic effort – reminding the US that minorities here were safe and Pakistan does not need lecture from any country for on the issue – represents victory for the PTI government. Pakistan not only has fully active Human Rights Commission but has also reserved seats for minorities in the parliaments.”

The opposition was not ready to let this declaration of victory pass by easily.

PML-N’s Azma Bhukhari was more measured in her criticism: “Yes, Pakistan does not need lectures on the issue but it is also a fact that the situation is not ideal for minorities. Nomination and withdrawal of name of Atif Mian only left a bad mark on Pakistan. The US dropping of name was motivated by its geographical and political compulsions, not by any diplomatic effort by the PTI government that justifies it as a victory.”

Waris Kalo of the opposition was more direct: “Call it a diplomatic victory of Indians, who, despite being the worst offenders of human and minority rights in Kashmir and Gujarat, not only escaped the list but got Pakistan placed there. How could the PTI government – clear loser in the game – has audacity to declare it a victory and came up with a self-congratulatory resolution?” he wondered.

Agenda for the day also included general discussion on annual report of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women but only brief discussion could be held and the report was not distributed in the house before hand. The discussion was still on when the chair prorogued the house, winding up the session.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018