Referring to the killing of 26 victims in the attack, many of whom were tourists, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said the House hopes that the state and central governments will do all that is within their powers to ensure that the “perpetrators of the terrorist attack are brought to justice”. He added that the Assembly also hopes that “no such incidents will take place in the future”.

After the obituary reference was approved, the House observed two minutes’ silence for the victims. It was then adjourned for an hour.

In the wake of the attack, India took swift action against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic relations with the neighbouring nation, expelling diplomats from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, and closing the Attari-Wagah border. Visas extended to Pakistani nationals under a SAARC scheme were also cancelled, and they were directed to leave the country.

Officials, who did not wish to be identified, said the security establishment is now certain there were four terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack and two of whom were from the Valley.

Tributes paid to Bhagat Ram, Randhir Cheema

The House also paid tributes to former MP and CPI(M) leader Master Bhagat Ram and former minister Randhir Singh Cheema. Bhagat Ram was elected to the Lok Sabha from Phillaur. He died on March 30 in Ontario after being diagnosed with cancer.

Randhir Singh Cheema, who was also a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), died on April 9.

The special Assembly session has been convened in the wake of the Centre’s directive to Punjab to release an additional 4,500 cusecs a day to the neighbouring state from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) reservoir for eight days.