The Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) Bill 2005, presented in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday, was referred to the standing committee by the Chair later on.
A number of opposition members, including members from treasury benches, during the session took serious note of performance of the standing committees.
Rana Aftab, Rana Sanaullah, Dr Wasim Akhtar, Pir Nazim Shah, Mohsin Laghari were unanimous in their opinion that these committees were lacking in realisation.
The legislators were of the view that if these committees had no utility, there was no need of forming them.
Malik Nazar Fareed Khokhar, Chairman Privilege Committee Punjab Assembly, told the House that the committees work depended on matter put before them by provincial legislators and if they failed to play a substantive role, things could not be expected of these committees, he added.
Punjab Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal, answering a question on establishment of Journalists Colony in the House, dilated that a total of 1489 kanal land had been allocated in Harbans Pura, Tehsil Cantt for construction of the journalists' colony.
He said there would be total of 1699 plots in the colony out of which 1410 would be of 10-marla and 289 of five marla. Apprising the House of qualification for obtaining these plots, he said that under Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation Act there were three categories, firstly Lahore Press Club Council members, secondly employees of Information Department and thirdly employees of electronic media to whom these plots would be allocated.
Talking about the price of plots in the colony, he said, Rs 350,000 would be charged for 10-marla plot while cost of 5-marla plot was set as Rs 175,000.
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is Chairman of the Board of Directors of this colony.
The minister said Punjab Information Ministry had asked leader of the opposition Punjab Assembly, Qasim Zia to nominate an opposition member on the Colony Board.
Punjab Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Zaheer, answering a question about advertisements by the government, said the Punjab government paid dues of regular advertisements, given by it within a set period of 60 days.
The Punjab Assembly on a question by MPA Iqbal Chunnar on cases of corruption registered in Multan region said a total of 699 cases were registered under the head during year 2003.
On a privilege motion by MPA Samina Navid, Privilege Committee Chairman Nazar Fareed Khokhar asked the legislator to present an application for reopening of her privilege motion. Punjab Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal presented the list of people employed in Services & General Administration Civil Secretariat to the members during the session.
On a question, provincial assembly was apprised that pension was being given to employees of Lahore Museum whereas this facility has not accorded to employees of Bhawalpur Museum.
The House on a query was told that there was a section of surplus pool in Services & General Administration and Information Punjab and civil servants that report in this pool their temporary appointment took place under Punjab Civil Servants Act 1974 under section 9.
On a question by MPA Samina Navid on total area of Wahdat Colony, the House was apprised that this colony comprised of 300 acres in which there were government quarters on 50 acres while total area of parks and grounds in the colony was of 101 acres. The House was adjourned for 10:00 am later on by the Chair.
Comments
Comments are closed.