The Senate on Monday approved the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2017, which seeks an increase in the punishment for those arrested for inciting disturbances in public spaces while under the influence, DawnNews reported.

The proposed legislation suggests that those creating a law and order situation while under the influence will be held in captivity for a period ranging anywhere from 48 hours to a week. They will also be fined Rs10,000, it reads.

The bill was presented by PML-N Senator Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, who said that people often come out of their houses while under the influence and provoke fights with others.

"The current punishment [for such conduct] is not sufficient. Those accused are kept in prison for only a few hours before being released and are liable to pay a fine of only Rs30," Senator Khan recalled.

Delimitation bill delayed

Debate on the crucial Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017, which seeks fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies ahead of the upcoming general elections on the basis of the provisional results of the 2017 population census, was delayed again due to low attendance in the Senate.

Out of 104, only 59 Senators showed up on Monday, after which Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq requested the Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani to delay deliberations over the bill.

The bill was recently passed by the National Assembly where all political parties voted in favour of the amendment. It will now be tabled on Wednesday, November 22.

Under the terms of the amendment, while the number of NA seats will remain the same, Punjab will lose out on seats as its share in Pakistan's population has fallen to 52pc in 2017 from 56pc in 1998.