LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday returned the controversial Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026 to the Law Department for reconsideration.
Following the required legal review, the bill will be resubmitted to the provincial cabinet before being presented again to the assembly. During the sitting, lawmakers also passed several resolutions. At the conclusion of the session, the House expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of children in the collapse of a tuition academy roof in Lahore’s Kahna area, calling for strict action against those responsible and comprehensive support for the affected families.
The assembly session, which began two hours and 12 minutes behind schedule, was largely dominated by debate over the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan informed the House that, following objections raised over the bill and feedback from civil society and social media, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had directed that the legislation be reviewed. The speaker added the bill would be sent back to the Law Department, which would examine it and forward it to the provincial cabinet after incorporating the necessary amendments. The revised bill will then be reintroduced in the assembly.
Towards the end of the session, lawmakers also discussed the tragic roof collapse at a tuition academy in Lahore’s Kahna area that claimed the lives of several children. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan expressed profound grief over the incident and urged the Chief Minister to ensure full financial and administrative support for the bereaved families.
Government lawmaker Rana Muhammad Arshad said the chief minister had taken immediate notice of the incident and directed provincial ministers to visit the site. Meanwhile, MPA Amjad Ali Javed called for strict action against those responsible and urged the passage of his pending bill on the registration of private tuition centres to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The House also adopted key resolutions on water conservation, eliminating drug use in educational institutions, and transforming the Punjab Assembly into a fully digital legislature. In addition, two private university bills were passed, while a new bill seeking the establishment of another private university was introduced. After completing the agenda, the chair adjourned the session indefinitely.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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