Lahore – The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed three private bills including Punjab Emergency Services (Amendment) Bill 2021.
Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi emerged victorious after the treasury allowed passage of private bill previously dubbed as money bill that required prior approval from the cabinet.
The chair included the bill in the agenda and managed to get it passed, ruling out objections by Law Minister Raja Basharat.
The bill had earlier been taken up in the last private members’ day on February 23. But Law Minister had then opposed it arguing that no private member can move a bill that involves public exchequer.
He had promised to come up with a similar bill of the government in the next session that began last Thursday.
The Minister didn’t keep his word and argued that the document needed to be approved by the provincial cabinet, requiring more time.
An irritated Speaker adjourned the session for three days.
while giving warning that no business would be allowed until the said legislation was made part of the agenda.
He re-included the private member’s bill in the agenda for Tuesday using his power. The House unanimously passed the bill as no cabinet member, including the Law Minister dared to oppose the move.
Khadija Umar, PML-Q legislator, moved the bill in the previous session for the purpose.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, the chair expressed happiness that his brain child got the status of an independent institution and now it would be able to frame a service structure for the rescue officers.
The House passed the Punjab Transparency & Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2021, moved by treasury member Mian Shaffi Muhammad and the Times Institute Multan (Amendment) Bill, 2021, tabled by Nawabzada Waseem Khan Badozai
The House also passed two resolutions including the one demanding provision of free education to children up to 16 years of age.
The resolution demanding promotion of English teachers to BPS 16 as per the service structure approved in 2004 was also passed unanimously.
On completion of agenda, the chair adjourned the session till coming Friday at 9am.
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