The Punjab government has introduced strict penalty for one wheeling on public places after the provincial assembly passed the Provincial Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2005 here on Monday.
Despite heavy criticism from opposition benches for tabling of the bill that had many defects, treasury benches went ahead and converted the bill into an act of law, which was tabled by Punjab law minister Muhammad Basharat Raja.
Under the amended act, whoever rides a motorbike on one wheel and consequently putting lives and property in danger would liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend up to six months or/with fine that may extend up to Rs5000. Moreover, the motorbike would be forfeited at the time of conviction of the accused.
Opposition benches tried to highlight discrepancies in the bill, but no logical argument could convince the treasury benches, although the opposition was in favour of the bill. Deputy opposition leader Rana Sanaullah pointed out under the amended law, a motorbike involved in one wheeling would be confiscated irrespective to whom it belonged, which would be unfair to those whose motorbike has been misused by others. He further said this would open more doors for corruption in the police department, as people would have to bribe to save their motorbikes from being confiscated.
"It is strange to note that a violator would pay fewer fines, while the man whose motorbike has been misused and has nothing to do with the one wheeling would be penalised for it. It would be appropriate if only the violator was punished for the crime," he added.
Such arguments fell on deaf ears of treasury benches who were bent upon to pass the bill as it was the last day of the present session of the house. The law minister came out with an 'amazing' solution to the deadlock by offering the House to pass the bill now, and if any obstacles arise in future in its implementation, the government would be more than willing to accommodate amendments of the opposition benches then.
Being baffled by remarks of the law minister, Rana Sanaullah and other member of the opposition benches staged a walkout and stated they would not take part in the passing of a defective legislation.
Later, the opposition returned and debated on another bill - the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) Bill 2005. The timing of the house had to be extended extraordinarily to get the bill passed. Again, the opposition opposed various section of the bill, but a majority of them were bulldozed by treasury benches.
The law minister said under the new act, prosecution services would be set up at the district and tehsil level. "The Punjab finance department has already allocated a budget for it, while former Justice Chaudhry Mushtaq has been appointed as Punjab prosecution general," he added. After a late session, the speaker prorogued the house till further notice.