The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday strongly condemning the hijacking of the Jaffar Express and all acts of terrorism that threaten the lives of people and disrupt the peace, Radio Pakistan reported.

The resolution, moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, appreciated the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, FC, SSG and law enforcement agencies for their “unwavering commitment, bravery and sacrifice in safeguarding the lives of the citizens and protecting the integrity of Pakistan.”

The hijacking occurred on Tuesday when the train, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 440 passengers on board, was ambushed by terrorists from the banned group. The assailants fired on the train and took the passengers hostage, leading security forces to launch a two-day operation to secure their release.

On Wednesday evening, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced the successful conclusion of the operation, stating that 33 terrorists involved in the attack had been neutralised. He also reported that 21 passengers and four personnel from the Frontier Corps were martyred during the incident, but assured that no hostages were harmed during the final rescue operation.

It recognised that their “heroic efforts in neutralising the terrorists” involved in the attack on Jaffar Express reflect the resolve of security forces to defend the nation at all costs.

The House expressed the resolve to take “every possible measure to eliminate terrorism from every corner of the country, affirming that no group, individual and ideology that seeks to undermine the nation’s security, prosperity and sovereignty will be allowed to spread fear, hatred and violence within the territorial limits of the country.”

It expressed the commitment to working “relentlessly to root out terrorism” in all its forms and manifestations.

The House called upon the people, regardless of their ethnicity and religion, to unite in the fight against terrorism and reject extremism, ensuring peace, safety and prosperity for future generations.

While participating in the discussion on the presidential address to the joint sitting of Parliament in the National Assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would “emerge victorious” in the war on terrorism with the nation’s support for the armed forces.

He said the security forces killed the terrorists who attacked Jaffar Express, thus preventing the “crisis from worsening.”

Asif criticized the PTI for “targeting the state institutions” on social media.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari “strongly condemned” the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express and paid tributes to the “brave security forces” for taking on the terrorists and managing to save a substantial number of passengers.

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“These terrorists have no ideology or religion. Terrorists, enjoying the backing of some foreign forces, only want to kill innocent people and impede the progress of Pakistan,” he said and stressed the need for unity in political ranks and consensus to once again defeat the terrorists.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari, in his address to the joint sitting of the parliament, also highlighted the need for unity and consensus to deal with the challenges.

At the outset, the house offered fateha for the security personnel and passengers martyred in the terror attack.