LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday witnessed a heated exchange on the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026 with the opposition describing the legislation as an assault on fundamental rights and freedom of expression while Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan assured the lawmakers that their concerns about the bill would be addressed before being taken up for consideration.
Opening the debate, Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi alleged that the proposed law violated constitutional guarantees and democratic principles. He warned that the bill could become the final nail in the coffin for freedom of expression and accused the government of attempting to suppress dissent through legislation.
“The Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026 is being introduced to silence people,” Qureshi alleged, adding that the ruling PML-N had previously enacted accountability laws that eventually rebounded against its own leadership.
Responding to the opposition’s concerns, the speaker said he had not been presiding over the House when the bill was originally introduced or when the relevant committee’s report was presented.
Calls it a bid to suppress dissent; HRCP concerned at the proposed law
