Punjab Assembly Speaker Expresses Surprise Over Habitual Offenders Bill, Questions Legislative Process
Lahore: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has expressed surprise and concern over the introduction of the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill, 2026 in the provincial assembly, saying he was not informed about the legislation before it was tabled.
According to reports, the speaker reacted strongly after opposition lawmakers pointed out the bill during assembly proceedings. He questioned why he had not been properly briefed on such an important piece of legislation and criticized the Assembly Secretariat and relevant officials for failing to keep him informed.
Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan warned that he would not remain silent over what he described as a serious lapse in the legislative process. He indicated that strict legal and constitutional action would be taken against those responsible for withholding information or failing to follow proper procedures.
Commenting on the legal and constitutional aspects of the proposed law, the speaker said that legislation rooted in colonial-era practices could not be implemented in the present day without thorough debate and scrutiny. He maintained that laws restricting citizens’ freedoms or fundamental rights, or those resembling measures from the colonial period, should not be passed without detailed examination by the assembly.
The Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill, 2026 is intended to strengthen monitoring and impose stricter restrictions on repeat offenders. However, some of its provisions have drawn criticism, with opponents comparing them to controversial laws from the past.
Following the speaker’s strong objections, the future of the bill and its approval process has become uncertain, with further deliberations expected before any final decision is made.
