Lawmakers’ salaries: LHC seeks reply from federal govt

Petitioner says lawmakers gave themselves a salary raise despite dire economic situation

LAHORE: A division bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday sought replies from the federal government by August 2 on an inter-court appeal challenging the raise in salaries of the members of the National Assembly. A bench, comprising Justice Aminud Din Khan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, is hearing the petition.

On June 17, Justice Shahid Karim had dismissed as not maintainable a petition challenging the raise in salaries and perks of parliamentarians. Muhammad Mukhtar has now filed the appeal against the single-bench order. His counsel, AK Dogar, said that the salaries of the parliamentarians were already high as compared to other government functionaries. “They also enjoy dozens of other perks and privileges. The recent raise in their salaries is tantamount to discrimination against the common man,” he said.

He said that Pakistan was a poor country and most of its citizens lacked basic healthcare facilities and quality education. “Foreign debt has reached record levels and the common people are suffering due to poverty and unemployment. Despite these circumstances, the parliamentarians have gone ahead with raising their salaries,” Dogar said. He said that the petition had been moved under Article 199 of the Constitution and was maintainable.

“The single bench did not appreciate the contention and turned down my request on the maintainability question. The petition is on merit and in national interest,” he said.

He requested the court to set aside the raise in salaries of parliamentarians. Dogar also requested the court to order implementation of Section 5 and 7 of Enforcement of Shariah Act 1991 (observing principles of Shariah).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2016.