LAHORE, June 22: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday adopted the Local Government (amendment) Bill, 2005, repealing the Punjab Local Government (amendment) Ordinance, 2005, promulgated by the governor on June 6.

There was no notice of amendment to any clause of the bill as the opposition had already boycotted the proceedings “to protest partisan attitude of the speaker”.

The bill, having 79 clauses heavily amending the ordinance, had been approved by the standing committee only in two sittings — on Monday and Tuesday.

PPP’s Jahanzeb Imtiaz Gill and Chaudhry Zahid Pervaiz had given a note of dissent on the bill, saying as the principal ordinance was sixth schedule of the Constitution and the committee had no power to suggest any amendment to the bill, therefore, convening a meeting of the standing committee to discuss it was an illegal and uncalled for action.

For this reason, they said, they did not want to be part of the unlawful proceedings of the committee.

“Being members of the standing committee, we cannot propose any change or amendment to the bill, therefore, we oppose the bill with the remarks that the President has jeopardized the powers of the provincial legislature and autonomy of the provincial government.”

Meanwhile, the house also adopted the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Bill, 2005, upgrading the establishment’s top office from director to director-general.

Appropriation and finance accounts of the Punjab government and report of the auditor-general of Pakistan thereon for the year 2002-03 was also laid before the house which was referred to the PAC-I.

A motion under rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure moved by PPP’s Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan to initiate a discussion on a matter of public importance relating to the revenue and colonies department was disposed of as the mover was absent from the house.

Later, the chair adjourned the house for an indefinite period.