Daily Times

LAHORE: The Provincial Assembly on Wednesday passed three bills amid a boycott by the opposition against treasury members’ disregard for the House business.

Earlier, the session started an hour and 40 minutes behind its scheduled time at 10am with Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan in chair. After the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, an opposition member, Asif Mehmood of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf pointed out lack of quorum following which the proceedings were adjourned only to resume after two hours. Soon after the ruling party had succeeded in completing the quorum (one-fourth of the legislators in the House), treasury MPAs left for a free meal arranged for them in the Assembly cafeteria by the party.

When the session resumed at 2pm, there were only two opposition members in the House -Asif Mehmood and Dr Nosheen Hamid. The two immediately announced boycotting the session in protest against the lackluster attitude of the ruling party in running the business of the House.

The session then proceeded. A question hour for queries related to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department was part of the day’s agenda but it was postponed after the House was told that the minister and secretaries concerned were in Multan for some official business. At this point, the remaining opposing MPAs also stood up and boycotted the session in protest

The session then proceeded. A question hour for queries related to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department was part of the day’s agenda but it was postponed after the House was told that the minister and secretaries concerned were in Multan for some official business. At this point, the remaining opposing MPAs also stood up and boycotted the session in protest.

Later, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the following bills: The Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority Bill of 2017; The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill of 2017; and The Punjab Zakat and Ushr Bill 2017. The House passed all three bills after consideration with majority in the absence of opposition members.

All three bills had been recommended by relevant standing committees. With the passage of the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, the government has paved the way for some reduction in fines imposed on violations of various rules and regulations.

After completion of the agenda of the day, the Chair adjourned the session till 10am on Thursday (today).

Published in Daily Times, February  8^th2018.