Despite opposition’s several attempts to sabotage the official business of the treasury on Wednesday, the Punjab government succeeded in getting the provincial assembly’s nod to legalise its wish of delaying the local body elections for another six months.
In its 32nd session chaired by Deputy Speaker Rana Mashud, the Punjab Assembly deliberated on a number of legislations tabled by Minister Nadeem Kamran in absence of Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Interestingly, the opposition members having prior knowledge of official business for the day, willfully created quorum issue several times and members of the opposition left the assembly during the proceeding.
Legislators of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Syed Hassan Murtaza and Semal Kamran separately pointed out the lack of quorum to foil the treasury’s bid to table important legislations, but the government successfully manged the quorum and completed the official business of the day.
With the passage of Hindu Disposition of property (Amendment) Bill 2011, The Punjab Conferment of Proprietary Rights on Occupancy Tenants and Muqarraridars Bill 2011, was put deferred.
This bill would be presented for passage later on. A total of ten bills presented in the House were referred to house committees.
These bills included The Walled City of Lahore Bill, The Punjab Local Government (Second Amendment) Bill 2011, The Ghazi University, DG Khan Bill 2011, The Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment)Bill 2011, The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment)) Bill 2011, The Punjab Public Defender Service Act 2007 (Repeal) Bill 2011, The Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Amendment ) Bill 2011, The Punjab Public Service Commission (Amendment ) Bill 2011, The Settlement Commissioners (Validation of Orders ) (Repeal) Bill 2011, and The Evacuee Property and Displaced Persons Laws (Repeal) Amendment Bill 2011.
Besides tabling the bills, Minister Nadim Kamran replied to a number of queries about the Food Department, saying the government had established centres of wheat procurement in Lahore in Rakh Chabeel, Raiwind, Burki and Kahna.
He said in 2009-10, a total of 64,255 metric tonnes of wheat was bought in Lahore district.
He said in Hafizabad district, a total of 15,500 metric tonnes of wheat could be hoarded and in Chiniot, 36 godowns were available for the wheat.
The House was later adjourned until today (Thursday).
