A record number of 118 legislative bills were adopted by the Punjab Assembly, which emerged in 1972, while the assembly that came into being as a result of 2002 polls, approved 83 bills.
In the general elections, scheduled for February 18, Moonis Elahi and Mohammad Basharat Raja of PML-Q, Hamza Shahbaz and Javed Hashmi of PML-N, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Qasim Zia of the PPP were in the race for the slot of next chief minister of Punjab, the sources told Business Recorder.
However, results of the polls will decide the fate of next chief executive of the province. The people of Punjab will elect the 14th assembly in the February 18 polls.
Giving history of the Punjab Assembly, the sources told this scribe that the existing building of the assembly was constructed in 1935. It was designed by Punjab Circle Superintendent Architect Bazal M.Saloon.
Up to l4 chief Ministers governed the province from 1997 to 2007. The assembly approved as many as 602 bills from 1947 to 2007. Maximum legislation was made by the house, established in 1972.
The shortest tenure of the assembly was that of 1977. This assembly sustained for two months, 27 days and approved only 15 laws, the sources said, adding that Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, who remained chief executive of the Punjab for two year, two months and 19 days, took oath as chief minister four-time. He was also elected Speaker of Punjab Assembly thrice that remains a record so far.
The house that emerged as a result of 2002 polls had the longest tenure of four years, 11 months and 25 days. In 1992, second Islamic Summit was hosted by the Punjab Assembly.
Elaborating the history of the assembly, the sources said the Punjab Legislative Council came into being on January 3, 1921 and its first president was Minta Gosharard Devas Battler. It was given the status of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on April 6, 1937. Sir Sikandar Hayat Chaudhry was its premier, while Sir Shahab-ud-Din was its first Speaker.
After establishment of Pakistan, Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Mumdoot was elected first chief minister of Punjab on August 15, 1948. Mian Mumtaz Khan Doultana remained the Punjab chief minister from April 5, 1951 to April 3, 1953. Afterward Malik Feroze Khan Noon ruled the Punjab till April 21, 1955. Sardar Abdul Hameed Khan Dasti remained the chief minister till October 14, 1955.
In October 1955, West Pakistan was declared One Unit and the Punjab assembly was given the status of the West Pakistan Assembly. General elections were held in 1970, One Unit was dissolved and Malik Mairaj Khalid was elected chief minister of Punjab on May 2, 1972. On November 12, 1973, Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar was elected chief minister of Punjab. Muhammad Hanif Ramey was elected leader of the house on March 15, 1974, the record shows.
Talking about legislation made in the Punjab assembly, sources said the assembly formed in 1972 made record legislation in the history of the assembly, as it passed 118 laws, which was a record so far. The house, emerged in 1977, approved 15 bills, followed by 26 bills in 1985; 17 bills in 1988; 29 bills in 1990; 25 bills in 1993; 39 bills in 1997; 83 bills by the house emerged as a result of 2002 polls.
As a result of non-parties elections of 1985, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif became chief minister of Punjab on April 9, 1985. He remained the chief executive till May 30, 1988. He became caretaker chief minister of Punjab on December 2, 1988 after General Zia-ul-Haq dissolved the assemblies. He remained chief executive till August 6, 1990.
In 1990 general elections, Mian Nawaz Sharif became prime minister of Pakistan and Ghulam Haider Wyne took oath as chief minister on November 8, 1990. He remained the chief minister of Punjab till April 25, 1993. In 1993 general elections, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo became chief minister. He took oath as chief minister for four times and remained speaker thrice, which is a record.
Sardar Arif Nakai remained chief minister from September 13, 1995 to November, 1996. Mian Shahbaz Sharif became chief minister because of general elections 1998. Shahbaz remained chief minister from February 20, 1997 to October 12, 1999. Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi became chief minister after the 2002 polls and during his tenure, the house adopted 83 bills.