The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the hijacking of the Jaffar Express, pledging to take decisive action against those undermining the country’s stability.
The resolution, presented by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, expressed deep concern over the attack and reiterated the House’s commitment to safeguarding national security. It strongly rejected all extremist ideologies that threaten Pakistan’s stability, emphasizing that no such groups would be allowed to operate within the country.
The resolution also commended the security forces for their swift and effective response in rescuing the hostages. “The entire nation stands united with the innocent citizens who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” the resolution stated, calling for a unified national strategy to confront terrorism.
During the debate, MNA Farooq Sattar emphasized that mere condemnation would not suffice. He urged the government and political parties to take tangible steps to prevent future terrorist attacks. “Our security forces successfully rescued the hostages. Now, it is the responsibility of all political leadership to unite and formulate a comprehensive strategy to address threats to national security,” he asserted.
Khawaja Asif Criticizes PTI Over ‘Propaganda’
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif praised the military’s quick action in the Jaffar Express rescue, describing it as a “milestone in the war against terrorism.” However, he accused PTI of spreading false information by suggesting that the hostages were freed by the militants rather than being rescued by security forces.
“The terrorist incidents over the past few days were manipulated by PTI’s social media team to create a misleading narrative. They claimed that the army did not intervene and that the attackers freed the hostages. This propaganda was orchestrated by PTI members living abroad, including known fugitives,” Asif said.
He also criticized PTI for its history of supporting military interventions. “Those who were nurtured under martial law now question the sacrifices of our armed forces,” he added. He reminded that during their time in power, PTI had been briefed by military officials like General Bajwa and Faiz Hameed on counterterrorism efforts but were now distancing themselves from their past associations.
Bilawal Urges National Unity Against Terrorism
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned that global powers, terrorists, and the country’s adversaries were exploiting internal divisions, urging the nation to unite in the face of the growing terrorism threat.
During the National Assembly debate on the Jaffar Express attack, Bilawal strongly condemned all forms of terrorism, recalling how both Pakistan and the PPP had suffered greatly from extremist violence. “An attempt was made to kidnap me from the Prime Minister’s House, and my mother, Benazir Bhutto, was martyred due to terrorism,” he reminded the House.
He emphasized that terrorism was not a new challenge for Pakistan, citing the collective efforts to combat militancy in the past. “From ordinary citizens to the police and the armed forces, everyone sacrificed in this war,” he stated.
Bilawal also recalled the aftermath of the APS tragedy, when all political parties united to implement the National Action Plan (NAP), which had significantly weakened terrorist networks. “Unfortunately, we have lost the gains made against terrorism. The flames of militancy have reignited, and we are facing a more dangerous period than before,” he warned.
