Islamabad: Pakistani parliamentarians from
the opposition and treasury benches on Tuesday condemned the recent
murder of three Hindu doctors in Sindh and demanded that the
incident should be probed by a parliamentary or judicial
commission.
The National Assembly or lower house of parliament
observed a minute's silence to express solidarity with
families of the murdered men.
Reacting to the demands of the lawmakers, Interior
Minister Rehman Malik said all those involved in the killings
would be arrested soon.
Eleven persons accused of involvement in the murder of the
three brothers in Shikarpur district of Sindh had already been
apprehended while other suspects named by relatives of the
victims would be arrested soon, Malik said.
Speaking on a point of order, PML-Q lawmaker Kishan Chand
Parvani demanded the setting up of a parliamentary committee
to probe the reasons behind the murders.
This panel should also investigate reasons for
discrimination against minorities, he said.
Though Hindus are indigenous inhabitants of the country,
the ruling Pakistan People's Party had failed to take action
even after it was contacted by the family of the murdered men,
he alleged.
Former federal minister Sherry Rehman, a member of the
PPP, urged the House to take practical steps to ensure the
protection of minorities and women.
The National Assembly should probe the incident and submit
a report within a week, she said.
Rehman further urged the National Commission of Minorities
to probe the incident.
Shahnaz Wazir Ali, also a member of the PPP, condemned the
murder and said the rights of minorities were enshrined in the
constitution of 1973.
Lawmaker Manwer Lal of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
demanded a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the
murders.
Ramesh Lal of the PPP noted that four suspects were still
at large though President Asif Ali Zardari had ordered the
immediate arrest of the accused.
Khatu Mal Jeewan of the PPP contended that late military
ruler Zia-ul-Haq was responsible for the conspiracies against
minority communities like the Hindus.
Among the other lawmakers who condemned the murders were
Jamshed Dasti, Yasmin Rehman, Nadeem Azfaz Chan and Palwasha
Rehman.
The three Hindu men were gunned down by unidentified men
in Shikarpur district on November 7.
According to reports, they were killed following a dispute
between Hindus and Muslims involving a Muslim girl.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 20:40