Perks for life: Assembly’s last-minute bill challenged in court

PML-N leader complains the bill was passed only to get undue benefits.

KARACHI: The bill that allowed a life-time of perks and privileges for Sindh Assembly lawmakers and the chief minister was challenged in court on Thursday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi filed the petition in Sindh High Court complaining that during the last session of the Sindh Assembly on March 15, the speaker had allowed a bill introduced with “mala fide intentions and ulterior motives” only to get undue benefits.

“Without any debate or discussion, the bill was passed under the supervision of the speaker despite a strong disapproval from the members of the opposition bench,” he said. It is a known practice that all bills related to monetary privileges and perks need to be included in the annual budget, he pointed out.

He termed this act “illegal and immoral” and claimed that it comes under the ambit of excess of powers. “There is no provision on pension or life-time perks and privileges for any members of parliaments, besides it is a clear violation of Article 5 and 38 of the Constitution.”

This is such a shame for the democratic system as the custodians are looting the assets of the province, where innocents babies were dying because healthcare was unavailable and schools did not have classrooms, he said. He requested the court it declare this act of the former parliamentarians as against Article 62 (f) of the Constitution, which disqualifies them from participating in the next elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2013.