Pakistani lawmakers say Haniyeh's assassination added to 'angst, grief'

ISLAMABAD

Condemning the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Pakistani lawmakers on Friday said that the incident added "angst and grief" among the people.

The South Asian nation observed a day of mourning on Friday over the killing of Haniyeh.

In Islamabad, the parliament convened to adopt a unanimous resolution that condemned Israel’s “ongoing oppression and brutality” against the people of Palestine.

"The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has added to the angst and grief, and such incidents are seen as deliberate conspiracies to sabotage efforts to stop the ongoing oppression and brutality against Palestinians, and to establish peace in the region," the resolution said.

"All parliamentary parties in the National Assembly express their unified grief and anger over the ongoing Israeli oppression and brutality against people of Palestine for the past nine months," it added.

Later, a funeral prayer in absentia was held for Haniyeh in the parliament house, which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, ministers and lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties.

Speaking in parliament, Sharif condemned the assassination of Haniyeh and said Israel should be held accountable for this “heinous” crime.

"The martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh is a blow to peace efforts, Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings."