LAHORE - The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution unanimously to condole death of noted lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir.

The treasury managed to present the University of Sialkot and the University of Narowal Bill in the house before adjournment of session due to lack of quorum.  The session started 45 minutes beyond the scheduled time with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in the chair.  After suspension of rules of procedure, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan presented the resolution supported by legislators from both sides of the political divide.  Through the resolution of condolence, the House expressed sorrow and grief over the demise of Asma Jahangir and sympathized with the bereaved family.

Paying tributes to the deceased for her struggle for rule of law, supremacy of the constitution and promotion and strengthening of democratic norms in the country, the House believed that the government of Pakistan has rightly awarded her Hilal-e-Imtiaz. The deceased was not just a leading lawyer but also a prominent human rights activist whose services have been acknowledged not only in Pakistan but also world over. She also has the honor of serving as President Supreme Court Bar Association. The House prayed the Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

On a point of order, Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed drew the attention of the chair towards news of arrest of ex-Police Inspector and encounter specialist Abid Boxer by Interpol in Dubai. He said that the Police Officer was involved in killing of hundreds of people in fake encounters. He said that the encounter specialist has also spelled names of those who asked him for extra judicial killings. He demanded bringing the said Police Inspector to justice.

Rana Sanaullah said that Interpol has not so far informed the Police about arrest of Abid Boxer. He said that the federal government had issued red warrants for the said person on the request of the Punjab government. He would definitely be brought to justice if arrested, Rana Sanaullah said.

During Question Hour on Local Government and Community Development Department, PTI’s Raheela Anwar raised the issue of unchecked encroachment in every nook and corner of Lahore.

In a supplementary question, she said that traffic mess was a normal routine at the backside of PA due to rampant encroachments. She said that Metropolitan Corporation Lahore was helpless before powerful encroachers.

Parliamentary Secretary Ramzan Siddiq Bhatti said that anti encroachment operations were normal routine everywhere in the world. He claimed controlling encroachments to a greater context through mega operation in the city. He said that initiative of setting up model bazaars was aimed at controlling encroachments.

To a question of treasury legislator Nighat Nasir Sheikh regarding spending of development funds in nine zones, he said that Rs40 millions have been spent on different projects.

After the Law Minister presented The University of Sialkot Bill and The University of Narowal Bill before the House, the PTI’s Asif Mehmood pointed quorum. As the quorum remained incomplete even after ringing bells for five minutes, the chair adjourned the session till Monday at 2pm.