LAHORE, May 31: Resuming discussion on the law and order situation in the province in the Punjab Assembly on Monday, various members cited reasons for deterioration.

PPP's Samiullah Khan said the situation could not be improved unless supremacy of parliament, independence of judiciary and effectiveness of administration was ensured. He said poor economic conditions and high population growth rate were the other reasons for the rising crime graph.

Deploring priorities of the chief minister, he said when 18 people were being killed in the home district of the CM, he was giving the "good news" of finding another turncoat (Ahad Malik) in the ranks of the opposition.

Parliamentary Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Malik Ahmad Khan saw the hasty adoption of the Police Order 2002 as another factor behind this situation. He said that at least 25 years were required to introduce the reforms in the police department.

He suggested a change in police attitude through improved financial position and better professional training. PPP's Shafqat Abbasi called for at least proper implementation of the Police Order's clauses like establishment of safety commissions if the assembly could not amend the order itself.

Others who took part in the inconclusive discussion included Rana Mashhud, Khalid Mansoor, Shaheena Asad, Zahid Pervaiz, Sagheera Islam, Qudsia Lodhi, Sheikh Ijaz and Shehla Rathore.

Both the treasury and the opposition benches decided that as law and order was an important subject, discussion on it would continue even on Wednesday. The chair prorogued the house for 10am on Tuesday.

Earlier, the house passed the Superior College, Lahore; the University of Management and Technology, Lahore; and the Punjab Private Security Companies (regulation and control) bills.

It also adopted a unanimous resolution expressing sympathies with the Muslims being victimized in Iraq, Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya, condemning the desecration of the mausoleum of Hazrat Ali (RA) and demanding setrn strict action against those responsible for this.