THE people send their elected representatives to Parliament to raise voice for their rights and get their problems addressed yet situation in our country is totally the opposite as our lawmakers always appear to be more interested in protecting and promoting their well-being and self interest.
One saw its manifestation yet again the other day when a group of parliamentarians submitted a draft bill in the Senate Secretariat to increase salaries of the Senate Chairman, Deputy Chairman, National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker by up to four hundred percent while those of other elected representatives by one hundred percent. Rupee depreciation and price hike have been cited as the main reason for enhancement in salaries. Additionally, the draft amendment to existing statutes seeks to allow each MP entitlement to 20 business class open return air tickets from airport nearest to their constituency to Islamabad. In fact nobody would have objected the bill if it was accompanied by a proposal to extend the same raise to all government employees who in fact have been affected the most by recent price hike. If these elected lawmakers who belong to well off families have been affected by price hike then we fail to understand as to why these lawmakers have turned their back to the predicament of people of this country.
As present government especially PM Imran Khan came to power with the promise and slogan to make one Pakistan, justice warrants that this bill be quashed at the very outset. Separately secretaries’ committee, which is the highest forum for bureaucrats, has also asked the government to give employees of Pakistan Secretariat Group a 120 percent raise in the salary. There is already much disparity in the salaries of different departments and allowing this raise only to Pak Secretariat Group will only further widen this gap much to the disappointment of other government employees. In the PPP era, a secretariat allowance was given to this group but employees of other departments were deprived of the same. It is important that the government comes up with a proper formula to do away with these inequalities and provide equal salary raise to all employees. This raise should also be given to those lawmakers who rise above their vested interests and work for bringing real prosperity and improvement in the life of common man.
