Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Bill passed

LAHORE
THE Punjab Assembly passed a Bill on Wednesday that required from the owners of the houses, shops and hostels to provide all details of their tenants to the local police stations within 15 days of the tenancy agreement failing which they could be punished with a three-year sentence or two hundred thousand rupees fine or both.
The Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Bill was passed rejecting all the amendments by the opposition on the technical grounds, that is, for being submitted after the stipulated time. The rejection infuriated the opposition members and as soon as the legislation process began, Khadija Umar of the PML-Q pointed out the quorum.
Deputy Speaker Sher Ali Gorchani ordered ringing bells for several minutes during which the treasury members mustered the required number of MPAs into the House. After the Bill was moved by Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, the opposition members raised objection that the Bill was moved in haste and they were not given the required time to submit their amendments. But deputy speaker refused to entertain their objections prompting the opposition to stage a walkout from the House.
However, the legislation process was carried out in the absence of the opposition members. When the House was legislating the Punjab Security of Vulnerable Establishments Bill, Opposition’s Dr Waseem Akhtar again pointed out the quorum. Despite the ringing of bells for several minutes the quorum could not be completed and the chair adjourned proceedings for Thursday morning at 10:00am.