Punjab PA passes Sentencing Bill 2019: Bill to facilitate courts in punishments as per intensity, nature of crime

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed Punjab Sentencing Bill 2019 which is meant to facilitate courts in awarding punishments to criminals as per the intensity and nature of the crime.

Under the bill, the sentences have been divided into four categories while keeping in view the nature, intensity of the offence and different aspects have been considered while awarding punishments to the criminals.

The bill was moved by the Law Minister and was passed by the House with no resistance from the Opposition. The PA session that began with a delay of nearly two hours with Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Mohammed Mazari in chair also held question hour session related to School Education.

On a point of order, PML-N MPA Khalil Tahir Sindhu lodged protest against the removal of former Home Minister Punjab Shuja Khanzada’s portrait from the PA lobby. Khalil said that Shuja Khanzada sacrificed his life for the country and fell victim to terrorism, adding that removal of his portrait from the PA was highly regretful.

Moreover, Law Minister Punjab Raja Basharat while speaking on the floor of the House stated that former President Pervez Musharraf held judiciary in great esteem and he appeared before the court while showing respect to the institution.

Besides, during the PA session, PML-N MPA Azma Zahid Bokhari voiced concern over the deteriorating health of renowned singer Shaukat Ali and criticised the government for ignoring the iconic figure. While responding to it, Dr Yasmeen Rashid rejected the criticism by the PMLN MPA and told the House that the government had borne all the treatment expenditure of Shaukat Ali. Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz and MPA Khawaja Salman Rafique attended the session on Production Orders.