The price of politics — and politicians

Politicians have a price, not necessarily in any corrupt sense but in the sense of sustainment — they need food, lodging and allowances. This is true the world over and such perks and privileges are not infrequently the subject of inquiries as to their use and abuse. Politicians in Pakistan are no different, and the government has decided in a move close to the election that can only raise questioning eyebrows, to enhance the list of freebies and allowances that politicians are entitled to. As yet there is no unified figure as to what this is going to cost on an annual basis, and it will anyway be argued that it is an insignificant fraction of the GDP but that is immaterial.

It is the underhand manner in which the enhancements were achieved that is particularly galling. They were inserted in the Finance Act of 2018 at the last minute and were never debated in the National Assembly and they extend to sitting parliamentarians as well as their spouses and to those who are now ex-members of the assembly. Even if there was no intention to wilfully deceive then it certainly gives that impression, and merely adds another layer to the perception of politicians as being self-serving, venal and deceitful.

This expansion of a privileged elite by subterfuge serves nobody well. A little more transparency, some clarity as to why the enhancements were necessary — and it must be said that some were in need of upwards revision to bring them in line with civil service grades — and the taste would have been less bitter. The necessity for the continuation of the ‘Blue Passport’ beyond the period of elected service is particularly questionable, as is the spousal addition. We have no objection to our politicians being paid the going rate for the job but we have a powerful objection to the behind-the-arras moves that are now revealed. On the up-side perhaps our politicians will be more regular in their attendance. Parliament generally has become something of a withered appendage of late and anything that gets more members in the chambers has to be good-ish news. We can but hope.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2018.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.