PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the killing of innocent Palestinians by Israeli forces in Gaza Strip and demanded of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to send forces to Jerusalem under the UN umbrella to protect the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque.

The resolution also called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods to the affected areas of Gaza.

Special assistant to the chief minister on information Kamran Bangash moved the resolution in the assembly, which resumed the session on Monday.

Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani chaired the sitting.

The resolution said 240 Palestinians, including 65 children, were martyred and more than 1,300 civilians, including women, were injured in the relentless Gaza airstrikes.

According to it, the bombing of civilian targets in Gaza by Israeli forces was a clear act of terrorism and a violation of human rights.

Pass resolution denouncing Gaza bombing by Israeli forces as terrorism

“The humanitarian crisis unleashed by Israelis has affected every Palestinian and hurt the feelings of millions of Muslims across the world at the same time,” it read.

The resolution said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government and assembly condemned the ‘barbarian act’ of Israeli forces and demanded the world leaders join hands to stop Israeli atrocities and support the free Palestinian state.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Akram Khan Durrani asked the federal government to allow volunteers to proceed to Palestine to protect the holy sites.

“The government should let volunteers with the spirit to embrace martyrdom to go to Palestine,” he said, adding that Pakistani youth were ready to leave for Gaza.

He criticised several Muslims countries, especially Arabs, for normalising relations with the Jewish state.

The opposition leader, who belongs to the JUI-F, said the countries, which had recognised Israel, were regretting their move.

He alleged that the federal government was planning to establish ties with the Jewish state.

“The premier’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia was an attempt towards the recognition of Israel by Pakistan,” he said.

Muttahidda Majlis-i-Amal MPA Inayatullah Khan said the Israeli aggression had rendered over 70,000 civilians homeless in Gaza.

He said the Israeli forces had committed war crimes and that the international community should step in to stop new settlements in the occupied territories.

Awami National Party member Khushdil Khan advocate criticised the policies of Arab countries towards Israel and said the resolution won’t stop Israel from committing barbaric acts against Palestinians.

He urged the Muslim world to take practical steps for the purpose.

The lawmaker said jihadi outfits, which had been fighting in Afghanistan and the India-occupied Kashmir, were unwilling to help innocent Palestinians and protect Al Aqsa Mosque.

MPAs of other opposition parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, also condemned Israeli violence against Palestinians and supported the resolution.

The assembly unanimously passed another resolution expressing reservations about non- acceptance of China’s coronavirus vaccines by Saudi and some other Gulf authorities.

MMA MPA Inayatullah Khan, who moved the resolution, said Gulf countries and members of the European Union were not allowing the entry of Pakistanis, who received doses of Chinese vaccines.

He said the World Health Organisation had recognised China’s vaccines but the Gulf countries didn’t accept them, so thousands of Pakistani students and workers had stranded there.

The lawmaker said the Foreign Office should formally take up the matter with the relevant authorities of those countries for corrective measures.

The members paid tribute to veteran politician and leader of the Awami National Party Begum Naseem Wali Khan, who died lately, and offered Fateha for her.

Members from the treasury and opposition declared Begum Naseem a role model saying she became active in politics after her party’s top leaders were detained.

Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai praised late Begum Naseem saying she had a great struggle for the strengthening of parliamentary system in the country.

She said Begum Naseem was an institution in herself and that she had leadership qualities and corruption-free career.

On a point of order, minority MPA Ranjeet Singh drew the chair’s attention to the disappearance of a minor Sikh child for two months.

He said the child was kidnapped in Peshawar 65 days ago but unfortunately, the police had yet to find his whereabouts.

The lawmaker said the child’s family received death threats.

He said the family and members of the Sikh community tried many times to meet the capital city police officer to inform him about the issue but the latter didn’t spare time for them.

The MPA said the superintendent police (cantonment) had advised the family to make a compromise with kidnappers.

“The police have failed to recover the abducted child and give protection to the family,” said Ranjeet Singh.

Minister Shaukat Yousafzai told him that it was the police’s responsibility to ensure the safe recovery of the child and that he would take up the matter with the police chief, too.

The chair later adjourned the sitting until Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2021