Heated exchange in Punjab Assembly over habitual offenders bill, supplementary budget

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Sunday saw a tense sitting marked by debate on the Rs566 billion Supplementary Budget 2025-26, criticism of the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026, and repeated clashes between treasury and opposition members that led to a brief adjournment.

The session began one hour and 45 minutes late and was chaired by Panel of Chairpersons member Rana Munawar Hussain. Proceedings were dominated by discussion over the proposed habitual offenders law after opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan said the measure was against basic human rights and could have consequences for future generations.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said he had not been informed when the bill was introduced in the assembly and warned that strict action would be taken over the matter. He also raised concern about how the proposal had been handled procedurally, saying a bill could not be sent to a committee without the speaker’s signatures. He further said that only courts could impose restrictions on individuals and noted that under existing laws of the Goonda Act type, intelligence agencies may submit reports but the court ultimately determines whether someone falls into the category of a habitual offender.

The speaker also described the revival of legislation of a colonial-era nature as unacceptable, while the opposition continued to object to the bill.

Confrontation on assembly floor

The house later witnessed a sharp exchange after treasury member Ahsan Raza Khan allegedly made remarks about the father of opposition MPA Owais Warraich, a former police officer. The comments triggered a strong protest from opposition lawmakers. Owais Warraich moved towards the treasury benches before other legislators stopped him.

Opposition members then raised slogans and demanded the suspension of Ahsan Raza Khan, prompting the chair to adjourn the sitting for 10 minutes.

Earlier in the proceedings, opposition lawmakers had also demanded an apology from the education minister over alleged remarks accusing teachers of theft. They said the comments had hurt the teaching community across Punjab.

Budget backdrop

The uproar came a day after the assembly passed the Punjab Budget 2026-27. The house approved all 131 demands for grants worth more than Rs339.067 trillion, along with the Finance Bill, after rejecting all opposition cut motions.

That sitting, too, was marked by protests, sloganeering and heated exchanges, and ended with an opposition walkout.