The Punjab government has made it clear that the Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026 will not be taken forward in its current form, but a new draft will be prepared after a complete review of it so that all legal and public concerns can be addressed.
In the Punjab Assembly session, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan said that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the bill is being sent back to the law department. There, after consultation with experts and necessary amendments, it will be approved by the provincial cabinet and then presented in the assembly again.
He said that the government’s aim is to introduce a balanced law that will prove helpful in preventing crimes but also give full importance to civil rights and constitutional requirements. He also admitted that the bill has been discussed in detail in various political parties and relevant committees.
In the session, the assembly members also expressed their views on important public issues such as water shortage, the increasing trend of drugs in educational institutions, the digital parliamentary system and the strengthening of local bodies. Several resolutions were unanimously passed, including recommendations for better water management, anti-drug measures and the promotion of modern digital systems.
At the end of the meeting, condolences were expressed for the children who died in the collapse of a private tuition centre building in the Kahna area of Lahore. The Speaker urged the government to provide immediate financial assistance to the affected families and leave no stone unturned in the treatment of the injured children.