‘Poor’ MPAs raise demand for salary increase, again

LAHORE: Demands for an increase in salaries of lawmakers dominated Tuesday’s assembly session, instead of public matters, after a treasury MPA raised the issue.

However, not all had money on their mind as the provincial legislature also saw a walkout from an opposition lawmaker against the demand.

Right from the onset of proceedings, treasury bench legislator Dr Farzana, on a point of order, raised the issue of increments in MPAs’ salaries.

The PML-N MPA argued that the salaries of legislators had been increased in all the provinces except Punjab.  She said it amounted to depriving the MPAs of monetary benefits already extended to their counterparts in the three other provinces.



Other women lawmakers from the treasury also supported her and stood up to chant slogans in favour of the pay rise.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal opposed the demand of the women legislators from treasury benches and asked for a justification.

He questioned the contributions made by women lawmakers to the house, saying they chose to remain silent during most proceedings. “Now they are asking for increments vociferously,” he commented.

He announced a walkout from the house and left the assembly hall in protest. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, while responding to the demand of women legislators, said the issue had also come up in the past. At that time, the issue was referred to a committee comprising leaders of parliamentary parties.

It had proposed a hike in lawmakers’ salary as per the ratio of increment given to government employees annually, the minister told the house. He proposed that the issue be referred to the said committee. He added the issue needed to be looked into.

After the debate, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan referred the matter to the committee.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Rana Sanaullah presented a resolution demanding service structure for journalists, which should cover their salaries, duty timings, medical allowance and other benefits.

During question hour, Jamaat-e-Islami legislator Dr Waseem Akhtar walked out of the house in protest to alleged changes made by the law minister to the original content of one of his resolutions. Later, the speaker sent a treasury legislator to Dr Akhtar and he was persuaded to return to the house.



Dr Akhtar also questioned the response of Irrigation Minister Amanatullah Shadi Khel to one of his queries. Akhtar raised the issue of water theft in Abasia Link Canal in his question, which the minister rejected in a written reply. The reply said that no theft had occurred.

However, the minister later backtracked from his stance and seconded Aktar’s assertions, saying strict action would be taken against those behind such activity.

MPA Muhammad Arif Abbasi, on a point of order, demanded lifting the ban on the issuance of an arms license. He questioned the logic behind the ban. Later, Speaker Muhammad Iqbal adjourned the house till Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2017.