ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly of Pakistan passed a resolution on Sunday condemning recent mob lynching incidents in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, while urging relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all citizens, including religious minorities, and bring perpetrators of such violence to justice.
The development follows the recent torture and killing of a local tourist in the picturesque Swat valley of KP, accused of desecrating the Holy Qur’an, whose body was then set alight by a furious mob.
During Saturday’s parliamentary debate, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal emphasized this was not an isolated incident, but part of a troubling series of violent acts committed in the name of religion.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif echoed the concern, urging the National Assembly to adopt a clear stance on the issue.
“The House believes that right to life is the most cherished right as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan,” the resolution presented by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said. “Every person is to be dealt with in accordance with the law and not otherwise.”
“This House takes serious notice of the recent mob lynchings of our citizens accused of offenses in Swat and Sargodha,” it continued. “It is noted with grave concern that such incidents have recently increased in different parts of the country. The House strongly condemns these horrific and tragic incidents which cannot be tolerated in any civilized society.”
The resolution urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure “the safety and security of all our citizens, including religious minorities and other vulnerable segments of society.”
Referring to another incident where a Christian man was targeted by his enraged neighbors in Punjab’s Sargodha district over blasphemy allegation, the resolution asked Punjab and KP administrations to “take all necessary measures to ensure that persons involved in these incidents are identified, investigated and prosecuted under the relevant laws.”
“The House also expects that the courts shall ensure immediate and speedy justice in these cases,” it added.
The KP police have formed a joint investigation team to investigate the Swat incident and arrest all involved individuals using CCTV footage.
Mob lynchings are not uncommon in Pakistan where even a mere accusation of blasphemy can lead to violence.
In case of Swat, mob members killed the tourist after storming the police station where he was detained, pulling him out and taking him away.
National Assembly passes resolution against mob lynchings in Pakistan, demands citizen safety
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National Assembly passes resolution against mob lynchings in Pakistan, demands citizen safety
- The development follows the killing of a local tourist in Swat on the accusation of desecrating the Holy Qur’an
- Pakistani lawmakers say violent acts committed in the name of religion have become a norm in the country
Pakistan downs drones near Kohat after Kabul accuses Islamabad of deadly airstrikes
- The exchange marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that began last month when Islamabad launched aerial campaign inside Afghanistan
- Pakistani official says there is just one consistent demand from the Afghan side: ‘stop supporting terrorists, harboring their leadership’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said it had conducted “precision strikes” against militant camps and support infrastructure inside Afghanistan, with the Taliban authorities saying the strikes had hit civilians and damaged infrastructure in capital Kabul and other border provinces.
The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that began last month when Islamabad launched a sustained aerial campaign inside Afghanistan, saying it was targeting sanctuaries of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for a surge in attacks within Pakistan. The Afghan government denies the allegations.
A Pakistani security official confirmed on Friday that the strikes were carried out last night, destroying “four key locations,” including infrastructure of a corps headquarters and an ammunition dump in Kabul, a militant training camp in Kandahar, an oil storage facility in Kandahar, and a militant camp in Paktia.
“The message is clear: no let-up, no negotiations, and no delegation sent by Pakistan,” the official, who requested anonymity, told Arab News. “There is just one consistent demand from the Afghan Taliban regime: stop supporting terrorists and harboring terrorist leadership or face the consequences.”
However, the Taliban government said the strikes had hit non-military targets, with Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stating on X that the bombardment hit Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces.
“With the continued airstrikes and crimes, once again the Pakistani military regime has bombed Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika, and some other areas, destroying civilian homes in some places, which martyred women and children,” Mujahid said, adding that in some instances, the strikes hit “empty deserts and vacant spots.”
In Kabul, police spokesman Khalil Zadran told AFP that the strikes killed four people and wounded 15 others, noting that residential homes were among the buildings hit.
The Taliban further alleged that a strategic fuel depot in the southern city of Kandahar was destroyed.
“The Pakistani military regime’s aircraft set fire to the fuel storage of Kam Air, a private airline company, near Kandahar International Airport. This company supplies fuel to civilian airlines and United Nations aircraft,” Mujahid stated, adding that the “oppression will not go unanswered.”
In response, the Afghan Ministry of National Defense claimed its Air Force targeted strategic Pakistani military centers in the Kohat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday morning.
“During the strikes, the Kohat military fort was hit. Additionally, the command center for Durand Line combat operations and the office of the fort’s commander were precisely targeted,” the Afghan Ministry of National Defense said, adding that the strikes caused “heavy human casualties.”
However, Pakistani security officials disputed the Taliban’s account of a successful strike, stating that the attack involved “rudimentary drones” that were effectively intercepted.
“Afghan Taliban-backed FAK (TTP) terrorists tried to use three rudimentary drones in Kohat; however, the drones were effectively brought down,” said one official. “Due to falling debris, two civilians were injured.”
Afghan and Pakistani forces have also clashed repeatedly at the border in recent weeks, hampering trade and forcing nearby residents to leave their homes. Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently.
