Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday strongly condemned the Kot Radha Kishan incident, wherein a Christen couple was burnt alive on the charges of blasphemy, and urged the government to bring the culprits to book. A woman legislator Asia Nasir from Hindu community strongly condemned the incident and said that misuse of blasphemy law was an issue.
Dr Azra Afzal of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) also condemned the incident and said that a transparent inquiry should be conducted into incident for bringing those responsible for the heinous crimes to justice. Shaista Pervaiz of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that there was no room for such incidents in Islam. Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael condemned Kot Radha Kishan incident and said under the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif transparent investigation was being ensured and it would be made a test case to bring the culprits to book.
"In the past, compromise was made on such incidents, but we will make it a test case. Such incidents damaged the soft image of Pakistan at international level," he said. The members also showed serious concern over the incident wherein 26 minor girls were recovered from a house in Karachi
The members urged the Speaker to constitute a committee of the House to investigate the incident. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Saddique sought report from Sindh government on the incident. He said that the report would be presented in the House. On a point of order, Captain Muhammad Safdar (Retd) pointed out that a company owned by Jehangir Tareen and Ikramullah Niazi was engaged in mining of granite from his constituency by erasing the valuable forests.
He said that huge quantities of granite was being mined from government land and exported but no tax was paid to the government. He said that granite was being exported to Italy. Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal told the House while responding a calling attention notice that under the new pension disbursement scheme pension was directly being credited to the bank accounts of the pensioners. He said previously 2.5 million pensioners were drawing pensions from specified banks and their branches but now all banks and their branches have been authorised to pay pensions. He said banks have also been directed to provide necessary facilities including shaded waiting areas and bath rooms for pensioners.