National Assembly resolution seeks debate on Sialkot tragedy

Published December 25, 2021
A view of the National Assembly session on Friday. — Photo via NA of Pakistan Twitter
A view of the National Assembly session on Friday. — Photo via NA of Pakistan Twitter

ISLAMABAD: Tabling a resolution in the National Assembly on Friday to hold a debate on the Sialkot tragedy in which Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara was lynched by an unruly mob for allegedly committing blasphemy, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan described the delay in deciding cases such as motorway rape case, Zainab rape and murder case and Noor Muqaddam beheading case as loopholes or flaws in the penal laws of the country, which needed to be improved.

Dr Awan urged both the opposition and the treasury to make a joint effort to improve the penal laws of the country so that culprits behind such heinous crimes could be punished in time.

He said that the Sri Lankan manager’s lynching and burning of his body has bowed the head of the entire nation in shame. “This incident has brought a bad name to the country in the entire world,” he said.

He requested NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who was presiding over the session, to suspend the agenda of the day and confine proceedings of the house only to the Sialkot tragedy.

Mr Suri accepted the req­u­­est and ordered suspension of the agenda of the day and the resolution was adopted.

Dr Awan said the main culprits behind the Sialkot incident had been arrested and their cases would be tried in an anti-terrorism court.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Surveillance state
Updated 04 Jun, 2023

Surveillance state

IN the midst of the madness, finally some sanity. Questions critical to the right to privacy of citizens bombarded ...
Transport crisis
04 Jun, 2023

Transport crisis

LIKE many other public-sector projects, governments past and present have promised numerous times to ‘revive’ ...
The Buzdar mystery
04 Jun, 2023

The Buzdar mystery

THE departure of former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar from politics is not really surprising as the PTI is...
New IMF programme?
Updated 03 Jun, 2023

New IMF programme?

The tranche’s release is crucial to the government’s plans to provide relief to the public in the budget.
Pemra’s edict
03 Jun, 2023

Pemra’s edict

IN an effort to mould the narrative, and prevent “undesirable” opinions from making it to the airwaves, Pemra ...
Crypto dreams
03 Jun, 2023

Crypto dreams

THOUGH the majority of the global financial community has wholeheartedly embraced the promise of cryptocurrencies,...