PA passes two bills amid Opp’s boycott

LAHORE

Punjab Assembly Thursday passed two bills including Punjab Local Government (First Amendment) Bill 2016 and Punjab Local Government (Second Amendment) Bill 2016 amid opposition boycott. 

The bills were moved by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah whereas opposition had boycotted the PA session in protest against the way treasury was treating the issue of Local Government System. 

Rana Sanaullah while speaking on the floor of the House stated that the government wanted to strengthen the LG system through the amendments. He said the seats were enhanced to ensure the participation the persons who were not capable of contesting the polls. The law minister said the seats of mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman had been constituted while keeping in view the population of Punjab, which had multiplied since 1997-98 when last census was held.

He said election for the slot of mayor and deputy mayor would be held under open division.

Earlier, Dr Wasim Akhter, parliamentary leader of Jamaat-e-Islami and other members of opposition staged a token walkout during the question hour session over the sale of liquor in Punjab and the revenue generated through it. He asked the minister concerned to brief the House whether the government had any plan to ban its sale, purchase and the revenue generated through it was legal or illegal.

Minister concerned Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman on the occasion stated that liquor was sold to foreigners or non-Muslims. He stated the law minister could brief the House regarding any future legislation plan over it but if any community had any objection, it could take up the matter to the Law Department. Shunila Ruth, a Christian MPA of PTI, was also among those who staged a walkout and stated that liquor was also banned in Christianity.