PA makes history by passing nine bills

Opposition walks out claiming proper procedures not followed

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly made history by passing nine bills in a very short time after the opposition walked out of the house, terming the preparation of the legislation as illegal.

However, this disruption seemed to have little effect as the treasury continued with its work without any hurdles.

Most PML-N lawmakers asked how the bills could be brought to the house and passed by the treasury when the standing committees concerned are nonfunctional, while some were never formed. Many shared similar views before walking out of the house. Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs dispelled the notion that the proper legal procedure was not followed while preparing the bills. He claimed all due responsibilities had been fulfilled.

NA passes record 11 bills amid opposition's outcry

As the next agenda item was called, the minister stood up to present the bills. In response, the opposition questioned the process under which the Bills were brought into the house to get them passed. The opposition raised a voice, but all in vain and they finally decided to walk out in protest. The PML-N leaders claimed they would challenge the alleged illegal legislation in the Lahore High Court.

The government passed the “The Punjab Water Bill 2019, The Punjab Seized and Freezed Facilities (Hospitals and dispensaries) Bill 2019, The Punjab Regularization of Service (Amendment) Bill 2019, The Provincial Employees Social Security (Amendment) Bill 2019, The Punjab Khal Panchayat Bill 2019, The Punjab Workers Welfare Fund Bill 2019, The Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019, The Punjab Minimum Wages Bill 2019, The Rawalpindi Women University and Rawalpindi Bill 2019”.

During the question-answer session, PA Speaker Chaudhary Pervez Elahi directed Raja Basharat to get details of an order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to keep women convicts, with suckling babies, away from jails. The minister responded that the government had no policy at the moment nor was there any law available to this effect. He said an amendment was required if women of the mentioned status were expelled from jails.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2019.