Bill seeking an increase in MPs’ salaries rejected in Senate

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – A bill seeking an increase in the salaries of members of the parliament was rejected on Monday. The bill was presented by Naseeb Bazai, Sajjad Tori, Yaqoob Nasir, Dilawar Khan, Ashok Kumar and Shamim Afridi. Naseeb Bazai said that salaries of all heads of departments are above 700,000. Faisal Javed said that the senators should work on the old salary. However, the government opposed the increase in the salaries. The PML-N and the PPP have also opposed the increase. Senator Azam Swati said that the salary of the federal ombudsman is Rs1.3 to Rs1.4 million. He said that the salary of the secretary is Rs350,000. “We have not reduced the salaries despite tough economic conditions. It is the system based on cruelty and should be discussed,” he said. Barrister Saif said that the increase in the salaries of senators would not be burdensome. Usman Kakar said that a majority of senators want an increase in their salaries. “The salaries in the judiciary, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are much more,” he said. PML-N Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said that the salary of the lower strata should be increased first if it has to be increased after creating resources. “The middle class is also worried along with the poor due to price-hike,” he said. Mushahidullah said that the people are besieged by numerous problems. “The government has withdrawn the subsidy on the orders of the IMF,” he maintained. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that the MPs draw the lowest salaries in the region. “It is not appropriate that the members should only talk about increasing their salaries, not the poor,” she added.