PA to return controversial bill to govt for changes
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LAHORE: In a legislative retreat, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed a complete reconsideration and redraft of the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026, in response to stiff opposition to the proposed law, including from within the party in the provincial assembly.
The announcement was made by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan during a session that commenced over two hours behind schedule.
The speaker informed the House that the Assembly Secretariat will return the bill to the law department, which will then refer it to the provincial cabinet for necessary amendments.
The bill will be entirely redesigned and represented to the Punjab Assembly for approval, Speaker Khan stated, noting that while legislation regarding anti-social behaviour exists in the UK, the Punjab government wants to refine the law to address public and human rights concerns.
Speaker says govt wants to refine the law to address concerns
He acknowledged that opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmed had formally written to the Secretariat regarding the bill, which had also seen detailed discussions within the standing committee.
The session saw heated moments when opposition lawmaker Rana Shahbaz strongly protested alleged medical negligence at the tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital in Ahmadpur Sial. Shahbaz claimed a gunshot victim tragically bled to death because of delayed medical aid, adding that doctors at government hospitals routinely neglect patients.
Meanwhile, minority member Phelbus Christopher protested the district administration’s recent takeover of the Ewing Hall (Neela Gumbad Hostel) of FC College Lahore.
In response, Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat assured the house that the Walled City Authority was merely renovating the dilapidated building, shut for 20 years, and it would be handed back to the college management once completed. He also shared that FCCU was now included in the CM’s laptop scheme.
The assembly unanimously passed three key resolutions. First, a resolution on water scarcity introduced by treasury member Mehwish Sultana highlighted that Pakistan only has a 90-day water storage capacity, threatening water, food, and economic security. The House urged the federal government to build new dams, implement modern water management, and launch public awareness campaigns.
Second, an anti-drug campaign tabled by Uzma Jabeen demanded a zero-tolerance policy against drug abuse in all public and private educational institutions.
Finally, a resolution by Shagufta Faisal celebrated the transition of the Punjab Assembly into the country’s first fully digital, paperless legislature under CM Maryam Nawaz’s vision.
Panel of Chairperson Samiullah Khan revealed that moving to a digital budget saved Rs146.25m by eliminating printed budget boxes. Previously, a single member’s budget documents consumed over 34,000 pages costing Rs225,000. This session alone saved over 100,000 pages of printed agendas.
In commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism, Chief Whip Rana Arshad, Ahmad Iqbal, and Malik Ahmed Saeed emphasized the need to strengthen democratic local government systems, noting that true democracy requires devolving power directly to the grassroots level.
On a somber note, the House mourned the tragic deaths of children killed in a private tuition academy roof collapse in Lahore’s Kahna area.
Speaker Khan requested the CM to provide maximum financial assistance to the victims’ families and premium care for the injured.
Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026 ...