ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution condemning the suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in Islamabad on February 6. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif spoke about the urgent need for national identity and unity in fighting terrorism. He said, “It is very important that we have a national identity on which no one disagrees.” Asif expressed sadness that political interests stop many from uniting against terrorism. “At least on national issues — all of us sitting here, regardless of which party they belong to … this is one thing on which there needs to be consensus,” he said. The minister blamed past dictators for mistakes that led to terrorism and said religious hatred was fueled by an international conspiracy. He also accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan and said India fights a proxy war by using Afghan terrorists. Asif called for differences among religious sects to be resolved in Parliament, not in mosques or imambargahs. Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai supported the call for unity and urged a three-day debate on terrorism and a stronger Parliament. The resolution, tabled by PML-N lawmaker Hameed Hussain, described the attack as “a direct attack on the Constitution of Pakistan, religious freedom, national security and interfaith harmony.” It demands exposing those responsible and taking strict action against banned groups and their networks. The resolution calls for effective security arrangements for places of worship, financial help to victims’ families, and the best medical care for the injured. It reiterates the resolve to not tolerate terrorism, sectarianism, or hate-based violence and to protect citizens’ lives and property at all costs.