August 19: A ‘Black Day’ in Pakistan’s Parliamentary History, Says Speaker Sadiq

Islamabad-Mudassar Iqbal; August 19: A ‘Black Day’ in Pakistan’s Parliamentary History, Says Speaker Sadiq, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has termed August 19 as the “darkest day” in Pakistan’s parliamentary history, marking the 10-year anniversary of the attack on the Parliament House. He condemned the 2014 incident, calling it a “shameful act” that compromised democratic values and principles.

Sadiq praised the bravery of parliamentarians, staff, and security personnel who defended the Parliament during the attack. He also acknowledged the role of political parties in thwarting the conspiracy against democracy. Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah emphasized the need for collective efforts to prevent such incidents in the future, stressing that the development of the country is linked to maintaining the sanctity of Parliament.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that violating the sanctity of Parliament is unimaginable for any democratic individual. He lamented that the heartbreaking memories of the day would remain etched in the minds of the people and keep reminding them of the attack on democratic values and principles. He also noted that the attack on the parliament was not only an attack on democracy but also a blow to the basic pillars of the State. The Speaker praised the bravery and perseverance of all the parliamentarians, staff and security personnel of the Parliament, for defending the Parliament under such hostile circumstances.

The Speaker also appreciated the role of the leadership and MPs of the then government, the largest opposition party in the Parliament i.e. Pakistan Peoples Party and other political parties as they played an active role in thwarting the attack on the Parliament and the heinous conspiracy against democracy. He said that during the heinous attack on Parliament in August 2014 the passage of the MPs was blocked off & attempts were made to paralyze the democratic process.

He also noted that an aborted attempt was made, but the Members of Parliament bravely foiled this nefarious conspiracy. He also said that the 2014 protests and sit-ins compromised the image of Pakistan around the world. He said that because of sit-ins outside the Parliament, the President of China had to cancel his visit, and as a result Pakistan lost foreign investments worth billions of dollars. He remarked that such attacks have further strengthened our determination and resolve to protect democratic institutions. The Speaker urged the people to unite and keep on playing their constructive role to protect democracy in the country.

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Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah in his message said that the attack on Parliament during 2014 was a tragic incident. He said that these attacks indicated the ill intentions of those involved in sit-ins, which were tantamount to weakening the democratic institutions and democratic system. The Deputy Speaker stressed the need for all political parties to take essential steps to prevent such incidents in the future. refine head lines plz and story