ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Khuzdar, labeling the targeting of schoolchildren as inhumane and called for a stronger defense against external threats and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens.
The motion to suspend the normal business and discuss the Khuzdar attack was presented by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani.
During the debate, senators accused India of supporting the perpetrators and emphasized the importance of national unity in the fight against terrorism.
Initiating the debate, former Caretaker Prime Minister Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar condemned the growing influence of Hindutva ideology in India, which he described as a threat to minorities and regional stability.
He warned of the ideological spread of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within Indian state institutions and cited the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a case of state-sponsored terrorism.
Kakar criticized India’s secularism as a façade, citing coercive laws targeting minorities, and denounced the Pulwama attack as a false flag operation.
Senator Shahzaib Durrani strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, calling it an assault on Pakistan’s future and collective hope. He said the targeting of innocent children in his hometown had deeply grieved the nation, describing the attack as a strike not just on a vehicle, but on the country’s history and aspirations.Drones
He said the attack came after the failure of a foreign-backed operation named “Message,” followed by another offensive, “Operation Sindoor,” on May 6–7, which Pakistan countered effectively. He added that when India fails militarily, it reverts to using proxies and targeting soft spots, including schoolchildren.
Senator Faisal Vawda condemned India’s targeting of vulnerable civilians as a cowardly act and called for national unity and stronger defense. He urged the government to promote national unity by engaging the opposition and setting aside political differences. Emphasizing national security, he called for a higher defense budget and doubling armed forces’ salaries, stating, “Without security, there is no sustainable progress.”
Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui vehemently condemned the recent terrorist attack in Khuzdar, calling it an inhumane and barbaric act that defies all moral and human comprehension.
Senator Siddiqui also placed the blame on India for supporting such terrorist organizations, asserting that India is funding, training, and enabling these groups.
Awami National Party (ANP) central leader Aimal Wali Khan compared the brutality against innocent children, saying such cruelty wouldn’t be inflicted even on animals.
He criticized the decades-long cycle of blame and inaction, warning that without serious reflection and implementation of policies like the National Action Plan, such tragedies will continue. “For 50 years, we’ve waited for the next incident, blamed others, and moved on as if nothing happened,” he said.
Participating in the debate, Senator Sherry Rehman said the recent terrorist attack in Khuzdar was a national tragedy, the entire nation is mourning the loss of innocent lives, including schoolchildren, including young girls.
She said the incident reminded the country of the 2014 APS Peshawar massacre, adding that terrorism in any form is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.
