ISLAMABAD: The move to increase parliamentarians’ salaries and perks fizzled out in a very early phase on Monday, with the Senate refusing to allow leave to introduce the bill by a majority vote.

Three major political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and two mainstream opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party — joined hands to defeat the move. Jamaat-i-Islami also opposed the idea, but Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and National Party supported the move.

Leave to introduce three bills proposing the increase in salaries of the Senate Chairman and the National Assembly Speaker, Deputy Chairman of Senate and Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, and members of the two houses of parliament had been sought. The leave to introduce the first bill was rejected by a majority of 29-16 by division vote while the two others were rejected by voice vote.

One of the movers, Naseebullah Bazai, while speaking on the matter said the offices of Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly were very important, but their salaries were too low as compared to those drawn by judges and heads of different authorities.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati while opposing the bill said though the facts narrated were correct, the economic situation the country was passing through does not allow this increase.

He said the chief ombudsman was drawing a salary of Rs1.2 million per month and the salary of federal secretaries was from Rs300,000 to Rs350,000. He said heads of regulatory authorities were also getting from Rs0.7m to Rs0.8m and their members get half a million rupees to attend a single meeting.

Swati says bills should have been first tabled in NA

However, he said, these three bills were money bills for all the practical purposes, which under Articles 73 and 74 of the constitution can only be initiated from the National Assembly. He also referred to Article 81 (b) and said the debate on the need for pay raise should start from the National Assembly.

Senator Faisal Javed of the PTI said the rulers of the past blatantly spent public money on their luxuries, but Prime Minister Imran Khan started austerity drive and set an example by staying at his personal residence and slashed expenses of PM Office to a record level. He said parliamentarians should not seek any increase in their salaries till the economy is completely stabilised and a change in the common man’s lives is visible.

Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif of the MQM-P disagreed. He referred to a 2016 judgement of the Supreme Court and said the bar was not applicable on the remunerations for the services rendered.

He said members of parliament did not come from a uniform economic background and it was not the house of elites only. He was of the opinion that the increase in lawmakers salaries would not make a big difference. He said the rich not interested would have a right not to accept the increased salary and they can even donate their salaries to some charitable organisation.

PPP parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman said the parliament’s role was to fight the case of people and the poor segment of society should be its priority.

She said at a time when the common man was reeling under inflationary pressures, increasing parliamentarians’ salaries would send a negative message. She said the rate of inflation was 12 per cent at present.

She however said that the salaries of parliamentarians in Pakistan were the lowest in the region and agreed that there were many lawmakers who had no source of income other than their salaries.

Usman Kakar of the PKMAP said the majority of the members were for increase in salaries, but regretted that many of them were also doing politics on the issue. He said judges and generals were drawing salaries much more than those of the lawmakers.

Leader of the Opposition and PML-N chairman Raja Mohammad Zafarul Haq said the common man’s lives had become miserable and urged that parliamentarians should wait for increase in their salaries till the destiny of the common man changes.

He said some principle should be set for determining the salaries of the president, prime minister, judges, general and bureaucracy. He said this should be decided in the upcoming budget.

Parliamentary leader of JUI-F Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was of the view that increase in the salaries would close doors for corruption. He said majority of the country’s population was living below the poverty line. He criticised the previous PML-N and PPP governments for their failure to take steps for poverty alleviation during their multiple stints in power.

JI emir Senator Sirajul Haq said politicians often said the politics is like worship for them. He reminded them that worship earns reward from Allah. “You will only degrade yourself, if you do politics for salaries,” he remarked. He said lust for money will minimise in society if parliamentary leaders set examples.

Sitara Ayaz of the ANP spoke in favour of the increase and said it was not a crime to talk of enhancement in salary.

Nauman Wazir of the PTI proposed that salaries of all the important functionaries and public office holders be linked with minimum wages.

Mir Kabir Ahmed Shahi of the NP said the corporation heads were getting salaries in millions while there were individuals who were drawing salaries as low as Rs8,000. He said this stark disparity was the root cause of corruption.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2020