The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) opposed the resolution. As the PML-N, JI, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JUI-F and Awami Muslim League (AML) supported the resolution terming Molla’s execution a judicial murder, PPP’s Abdus Sattar Bachani said Pakistan should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

The PPP member asked if Abdul Quader Molla was also involved in the killing of thousands of Bengalis. The PPP’s attitude in the House was also condemned by Shaikh Rashid Ahmed of the AML, Raza Hayat Hiraj and other members of parties who supported the resolution.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who was the first to speak on the issue, observed that the PPP’s opposition to the resolution would not give a good message outside parliament.

“The whole nation is feeling sad over this tragic incident. A person who was the flagbearer of a united Pakistan was executed through judicial murder,” the interior minister said.

Through the resolution moved by the JI member Sher Akbar Khan, the House expressed serious concern over the execution of 65-year-old Bangladeshi leader for supporting Pakistan in 1971. The House also condoled with the JI Bangladesh.

The resolution also demanded that the Bangladesh government should not reopen the 1971 cases. The National Assembly also demanded that the Bangladesh government end all cases against the JI leaders with the spirit of reconciliation.

The interior minister said Abdul Quader Molla was more a patriotic Pakistani than a JI leader and his martyrdom had reopened the wounds of 1971 when the country had broken into two parts. “I express grief along with the people of Bangladesh and JI,” he said.

At the same time, he said Pakistan fully respected the sovereignty of Bangladesh. “We respect the sovereignty of Bangladesh and its well-wishers,” Nisar said, adding, “Pakistan also wants that such matter should be addressed with the spirit of forgive and forget”.

He regretted that the governments, opposition and elite were yet to learn a lesson from the tragic incident of Dhaka debacle. “Today, we need self-evaluation and need to respect the rights of others,” he said.

Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of the PTI said the causes of ‘Fall of Dhaka’ should be looked into adding that the leadership of West Pakistan had not accepted the mandate of the leadership of then East Pakistani in the 1970 elections.

Calling Abdul Quader Molla as ‘Shaheed-e-Pakistan’, Javed Hashmi said like Molla Shaheed many other JI leaders and workers rendered numerous sacrifices for Pakistan.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the stance of PPP in the House to oppose the resolution was very painful. He said India was behind the victimisation and execution of JI leaders in Bangladesh.

He warned the government that Indian agents were carrying out terrorism in Pakistan, especially Balochistan where Indian arms had been recovered from miscreants.

Supporting the resolution, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said there was a need to learn a lesson from the 1971 tragedy. “We need to learn that military option is not a solution to the problems,” he said.

He recalled that when he had visited the then East Pakistan to play Under-19 cricket, he found some hatred in the hearts of people there; however, later when he visited Dhaka and defeated India in an exhibition cricket match, the 50,000 crowd was raising slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

Maulana Ameer Zaman also supported the resolution, saying that instead of executing patriotic Pakistanis those who a played role in breaking the country into two parts should be taken to task.