Joint session expresses solidarity with Kashmiris, prays for Turkiye

Raja Pervez Ashraf, Speaker of the National Assembly, presided over the joint session and expressed regret for the destruction caused by the recent earthquake in Turkiye and Syria.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the prime minister was in Lahore, despite earlier reports that the prime minister was also scheduled to attend the session.

The minister stated that Peshawar and terrorism were included on the agenda and attributed its absence from the advice to a “printing error.”

He maintained, “This is a very important agenda, and the session is not being postponed indefinitely.”

According to PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the process of passing resolutions has been going on for many years, but sadly, there is no life in our bodies. Kashmir has become a graveyard.

He lamented the fact that settlements in India-occupied Kashmir have become graveyards due to the over 90,000 deaths there.

He regretted, “Despite this, we could not shake the global conscience.” The Islamic world was asleep when it came to the Kashmir issue.

He suggested a committee comprised of lawmakers from both houses for the purpose of exposing India to the world and called for a plan to do so.

Resolution of solidarity During the session, a resolution of solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people was presented.

On behalf of the foreign minister, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi presented the resolution. Pakistan’s unwavering moral, diplomatic, and political support for the Kashmir issue was reaffirmed in the resolution.

According to the document, the House praised Kashmiris’ bravery and courage. It expressed concern regarding the settlement of non-Kashmiris in the occupied valley and rejected India’s unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019.

In addition, the resolution criticized Kashmir’s extrajudicial killings. It also condemned India’s provocative statements regarding Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

It asked India to declare the unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, 2019, null and void.

In addition, Raja Riaz Ahmed, the leader of the opposition, addressed the meeting. He greeted cabinet members and Azad Kashmir’s president and prime minister to the session.

He expressed gratitude to Kashmiris who were resisting atrocities against them. He made a comment that all political parties agree on the subject.

A threat made by an Indian military commander to occupy AJK and GB was regretted by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed. He rejected a ceasefire agreement with India and the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor.

He was pleased to see the army chief at the Line of Control.

Prayers for the victims of the Turkiye and Kohistan earthquakes The speaker also said that the House stood with the Turkish people during this difficult time and prayed for the Turkiye victims.

Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Minister of Religious Affairs, prayed for the earthquake victims. Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali prayed for the Kohistan bus crash victims.

The joint session was boycotted by PTI senators.

A bill that would increase the number of union councils in Islamabad was said to be coming up for approval earlier.

FM Bilawal was supposed to present the resolution on Kashmir, as stated in the six-point agenda that was provided by the National Assembly Secretariat.

The agenda also included a discussion on respect for institutions and the economic policies of the government.

The Islamabad Local Government Act Amendment Bill was scheduled to be presented by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. President Arif Alvi had refused to sign the bill after it was approved by the Senate and National Assembly. A joint session of parliament will now be required to approve the bill.