PA adopts resolution against BD execution

Urges UN, world organisations to take notice of human rights violation in Bangladesh 

LAHORE

Punjab Assembly Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution moved by leader of Opposition PTI MPA Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, JI MPA Dr Syed Waseem Akhter, and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah condemning the execution of JI Bangladesh head Motiur Rahman Nizami in Bangladesh for the alleged crimes committed before December 1971. 

The resolution narrated that the only sin of Nizami was his love for the ideology of Pakistan and respect for Pakistan’s constitution and laws. The resolution termed him a martyr and prayed that Allah accept his martyrdom in the face of injustice. It called on international organisations including the United Nations to take notice of this gross human rights violation and confront the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government. 

Ever since the beginning of the trials, several international organisations, human rights groups and international legal figures have raised objections to the court proceedings, especially regarding fairness and transparency, as well as reported harassment of lawyers and witnesses representing the accused. The international community has objected to the steps taken by the government of Bangladesh to impose restrictions on the independence of judiciary. The resolution expressed heartfelt sympathies with the family of the executed political leader and said the act was taken out of bloodlust by the judiciary and the government of Bangladesh.

Speaking on the occasion in the House, both the JI MPA and leader of Opposition saluted the services of Nizami and called out the hypocrisy of local NGOs who raised hue and cry when the moratorium was lifted in Pakistan after the APS tragedy but were silent on the execution of JI Bangladesh Ameer. Akhter informed the House that 20,000 JI workers were already serving jail term in Bangladesh and 12,000 students including females were also being kept in prisons for purely political activity. Meanwhile, a PML-N MPA also called for Bangladeshi foreign dignitaries to be sent back from Pakistan on a point of order.

Earlier in the session, a series of adjournment motions were ruled pending by the Deputy Speaker as parliamentary secretaries did not show up to the House with the necessary answers. Despite it being a question hour on population welfare, Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz and her parliamentary secretary were not present in the House. Quorum was also pointed in the House by PTI MPA Shunila Ruth and completed after a break of five minutes.

Meanwhile, the departments of agriculture represented by Agriculture Minister Dr Farukh Javed and by Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar came under scrutiny with questions on the low capacity of beds in social security hospitals in Gujranwala, expensive fertilizers in the market across the province, import of potatoes and onions from India, lack of cleaning of public market places outside of Lahore, and high prices of agricultural inputs.

Law minister also laid the Punjab Agriculture, Food, and Drug Authority Ordinance 2016 and introduced the Punjab Local Government (Fourth Amendment) Bill 2016 to the Standing Committee on Local Government for reporting in two months.