LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly deferred the Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2015, scheduled to be tabled in the House on Thursday, as lawmakers, especially women, on both sides of the divide resented the bill in its present form.

This left Law Minister Rana Sanaullah with no choice but to ask the lawmakers to `submit changes in the bill during the next three days, which would be duly considered.` The chief minister has already allowed postponement because of reservations expressed by a large number of lawmakers, he told the House.

The House passed two other bills The Punjab Motor Vehicle Transaction Licensees and the Provincial Motor Vehicles (second Amendment) amid low attendance.

Earlier, the House started its proceedings late by more than two hours at 12.05pm instead of 10am, with 72 members in attendance some 21 less than what the quorum required. Apart from the two bills, the House also adopted a resolution tabled by a PML-N lawmaker to establish an authority for development of a hill station at Mari Gorchani in Rajanpur district.

The Question Hour, which covered higher education, turned out to be `mourning hour,` for low standards of the education, giving parliamentary secretary Mehwish Sultana some tough time. She, however, agreed that the situation had left much to be desired and much more resources, both human and financial, were required to improve the situation.

The House was later adjourned for 2pm, Friday afternoon, for the budget session.