Punjab Assembly: Local govt law amended in line with ECP proposals

Parliamentary secretary says govt unable to deal with water theft in Cholistan

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a bill to amend the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 in line with the proposals put forth by the Election Commission.

The law minister had introduced the amendments on December 24. These include definition of ‘election’ and authorising the Election Commission to appoint returning officers from among federal government employees.

The session that started with nearly 30 members in the House featured questions related to the Irrigation Department. Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood responded to the questions.

The lawmakers brought forward the issues of lining of distributaries in Gujrat and differences in the designated flow of water and that being currently allowed in Kalianwala distributary in Faisalabad.

Responding to Azma Zahid Bukhari’s questions regarding water theft in Pakpattan, the parliamentary secretary said 3,603 such cases had been identified by the department over the last two years.

Of those, he said, FIRs had been registered against only 620 cases; 2,983 cases were pending with the police stations concerned.

Mehmood said action against water theft was taken under the Canal and Drainage Act. It might include up to one year imprisonment and a Rs15,000 fine, he said.

Islam Aslam raised the issue of water theft in Cholistan.

The parliamentary secretary said the provincial government could do nothing in this regard. “I won’t lie on the floor of the House… it is a no go area for the Punjab government.” He said the land in question had been reserved for Karachi Corps. He said even the irrigation secretary was unable to take action against water theft at the Abbassia Link Canal.

Farzana Nazir said the government and not members should arrange funds for the construction of a mosque at the assembly.

“It is the government’s duty. This is the provincial assembly, not a charity.”

Sheikh Alauddin raised the issue of a child recently abused at a madrassah in Lahore.

“Why are such incidents cover up?” he said.

“Whenever such incidents happen, we become silent. There is no proper certification system for madrassahs and clerics,” Sardar Vickas Hassan Mokal said.

The law minister said that an FIR had been registered in the case.

Faiza Malik paid tributes to the founder of Pakistan Peoples Party Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his 87th birth anniversary.

Mian Khurram Jahangir Wattoo condemned the Sunday’s attack on civil society members at a vigil for slain governor Salmaan Taseer.

The law minster said that an FIR had been registered and those identified through media footage had been arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2015.