LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Israeli aggression against Palestinians and also passed with one voice a law declaring teaching of the Holy Quran as compulsory in educational institutions.

The resolution held Tel Aviv as solely responsible for the deteriorating situation in Palestine and urged the Ummah to shun its interests and come up with some plan to check the Israeli oppression.

Showing solidarity with the Palestinians and rejecting expansion plans of Israel, it said 1.65 billion Muslims, if they raise their voice unanimously, shall be heard by the whole world. The resolution said the Zionist state committed war crimes by attacking unarmed Palestinians and called for putting an end to human rights violations and desecration of holy places.

It urged the comity of nations to discharge its responsibilities for stopping Israeli aggression and the Security Council in establishing peace in the region. It called upon the federal government to play its due role in condemning the Israeli barbarism and ending the same and conveying sentiments of Pakistanis to the UN, OIC and human rights bodies.

The federal government, it said, should renew its political and moral support and convey the message to the Palestinians that they are not alone in this testing time and Pakistani people are standing by them.

The house also passed The Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Bill 2021. It was tabled by two private members – Mian Shafi Muhammad and Khadija Umar.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021