KARACHI, Sept 23: The Sindh Assembly has condemned the barbaric suicide attacks on a church in Peshawar, expressed solidarity with the fellow Pakistani Christians and pledged to continue their fight against terrorism and to strive for a progressive and peaceful Pakistan as was envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Terming the attacks a national tragedy, which killed 80 innocent men, women and children and wounded more than 146 worshipers, the grief-stricken house passed a resolution unanimously demanding that the perpetrators be dealt with an iron hand and given exemplary punishment.

Before the adoption of the resolution, jointly tabled on behalf of all parliamentary groups and read out by Dr Mahesh Malani of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Arif Maseeh Bhatti of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Nusrat Seher Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and Dr Seema Zia of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, over a dozen lawmakers in their brief speeches on the resolution said the perpetrators of the dreadful incident should be tackled in a united manner to eliminate the mindset and take necessary measures according to the constitution for the restoration of peace, provision of protection to the people and all worship places.

Except the PTI, which still pleaded for talks to avoid a civil war, lawmakers from all parliamentary parties were almost on the same page. They called on the federal government to deal with the elements “in the language they understand”. They expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and said they stood with them in the fight against enemies of humanity.

Senior Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro paid tribute to the Sindh Assembly legislators for refusing to be frightened by Mulla Omar, recalling that Benazir Bhutto was the only Pakistani leader who openly talked against perpetrators of terrorism.

He said he was expecting suo motu action which, he said, was not yet taken despite the killing of so many innocent citizens in suicide attacks; some suggested attacks not be carried out in their province while other demanded that the country be saved from drone attacks.

Those who attacked a symbol of Pakistan in Ziarat, targeted girls schools, mosques, churches, Imambargahs and other worship places were provided cover saying that the attackers could not be Muslim. He said providing cover to perpetrators of terrorism should end.

He said that after the APC, Maj Gen Niazi and other army officers were killed and now when 81 innocent people had been killed in the suicide attacks on a Peshawar church, the leader (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif) had left for London where he had said that the incident would create difficulty in taking the talks forward.

Mr Khuhro said a dual policy could not work. One had to show resolve as was demonstrated by such leaders from Sindh as Benazir Bhutto and Altaf Hussain.

Leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Syed Faisal Sabzwari, who was the first to speak on the resolution, criticised the mentality of those leaders who were saying that the attackers were neither Muslims nor Pakistani while the elements involved claimed to be more Pakistani and that they carried out all attacks in the name of Islam. The minorities which were 22 per cent at the time of the creation of the country had been reduced to three per cent, but even now they could not tolerate them.

He also criticised those who said the attacks were a reaction to drone attacks. He asked after the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation would leave, “will the lion and the goat be drinking water at the same spot?”

He said the Bohris, Ismailis, Shias, Ahmadis, Hindus and Christians were living in constant fear.

Mr Sabzwari, representing the MQM, deplored that now it was being suggested that another APC be held on the issue. He said people were expecting their representatives to come forward and mobilise public opinion against those elements as no section of society was secure from terrorism.

He appealed to the federal government and institutions to initiate action against them as they were not only endangering the solidarity of the country but also defaming Islam.

Information Minister Sherjeel Memon said the culture which was introduced by these elements was eroding the foundation of the country. He said the PPP had suffered most in the fight against the mindset, who considered only themselves to be Muslims.

He said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had announced Rs500,000 for the family of each dead and had gone to Peshawar with senior party leaders to express solidarity with the bereaved families.

Arif Maseeh said his religion did not allow him to curse the perpetrators of the tragedy and would like to pray to God to show them the right path.

Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said the people behind the attack were those who wanted to push Pakistan into darkness and create anarchy in the region and unless they were eliminated, nobody would be safe in the country

Khurram Sherzaman and Dr Seema Zia of the PTI said the attacks were in retaliation of drone strikes. They said anti-Islam forces wanted to bring a bad name to Pakistan and Islam by such activities.

Humesh Malani of the PPP said it was a war of survival of the solidarity of Pakistan and democracy.

Mehatb Akbar Rashdi of the PML-F said a military dictator had derailed the country from the democratic route and the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam would take years to be put back on tracksBegum Bilqees Mukhtar of the MQM said that from the year 2006 till today there had been many phases of talks but without any result. She said the malady could not be cured with aspirin but through an operation. She said if the Taliban considered themselves so powerful, why they did not go to liberate Palestine.

She also said if an operation could be launched against extortionists and targeted killers, why it could not be launched against those who were striking at the very roots of Pakistan.

The house, which was called to order by acting Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza at 11.15am , was adjourned at 4.15pm to reassemble on Tuesday.