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