Police powers, Layyah floods dominate stormy PA session

The Punjab Assembly session was adjourned on Monday after the government failed to maintain the required quorum, with opposition lawmakers raising concerns over police powers, flood devastation in Layyah, alleged violations of members' privileges and the performance of the Suthra Punjab sanitation programme. The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, commenced two hours and seven minutes late with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Naat and the national anthem. As government business was about to begin, the opposition pointed out the lack of quorum. Bells were rung to summon lawmakers, but the required number of members could not be secured, prompting the Panel of Chairpersons to adjourn the proceedings until 2pm on Tuesday. Earlier, opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad criticised the police, alleging that the force had become "unaccountable" and was issuing e-challans indiscriminately on the orders of the Chief Traffic Officer. He questioned how many government vehicles had been issued e-challans and opposed a proposal under which police could be empowered to recover challan amounts. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan observed that once an e-challan had been paid, there should be no hurdle in obtaining a passport. However, he said withholding passports from challan defaulters would constitute an excessive exercise of authority. The speaker directed Parliamentary Secretary Khalid Mahmood Ranjha to examine the matter and observed that any such proposal could not override the Constitution. The opposition also drew the House's attention to the worsening flood situation in Layyah, with MPA Shahabuddin claiming that between 700 and 800 houses had collapsed because of floodwaters. He said thousands of children, women and elderly people had been affected and were waiting for emergency assistance. The speaker directed Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafiq to ensure immediate relief for the affected constituency.