Increase in perks of senators opposed

Latif warns attempts are being made to repeat May 9 violence

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister Javed Latif on Wednesday opposed the increase in salaries and privileges of the Senate chairman, deputy chairman as well as senators during the National Assembly session.

Taking part in the budget debate, the minister warned that attempts were being made to repeat the May 9 incidents, saying that the mindset developed during four years could not be changed overnight.

The house met here with NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair. The session unanimously passed a resolution, moved by MNA Nawabzada Iftikhar Khan, to pay tributes to the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, on her 70th birth anniversary.

During the debate on the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, Latif said that it was a “good budget”, adding that he prayed that resources would be available next year to provide more relief to the people.

He also referred to a bill recently passed by the Senate, which increased the pay and perks of the chairman, deputy chairman, and members of the upper house of parliament. He said that these increases were “unacceptable”.

He also criticised the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and the May 9 violence that followed the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a graft case. He said that the mindset built over four years could not be changed overnight.

In a veiled reference to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Latif said that many youngsters did not know who was punished for giving the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project to the country and who made the country a nuclear power.

Warning that attempts were being made to repeat the May 9 violence, the minister stressed the need for educating the people about the facts to remove the poison fed to the young minds over the years.

His views were endorsed by MNA Shaista Pervez Malik, who told the house that one person filled the minds of the young people with hatred against the institutions. It was the need of the hour to end this anti-establishment mindset.

Stressing the need for increasing the education budget, the lawmaker stated that more than 20 million children were out of schools in the country. “Resources should be prioritised. Our slogan should be quality education for all instead of education for all.”

Jamaat-e-Islami MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali opposed the Senate recommendations for improving the interest-based system. “I suggest abolition of usury in the budget,” he added.

Chitrali, however, supported the Senate recommendation to ensure the supply of goods at the utility stores. He called for declaring Gwadar and Malakand tax-free zones.

He said that flood aid should be provided to all the affected people, from Chitral to Sindh.

Dissident PTI MNA Ahmed Hussain Dehar said that any decision about the timing of the elections was the responsibility of parliament and not the courts.

He also demanded that south Punjab areas be made a separate province.

Dehar also condemned the May 9 riots, saying: “The whole world knows the person, who is responsible for them.”

Praising the military, he said, “When our soldiers are awake on the borders at night, the nation sleeps in peace.”

Later, the session was adjourned until Thursday (today).