PA speaker rules it is assembly’s right to decide MPAs’ salary

LAHORE:In the same post-budget session in which Opposition members were coming up with the cut motions to reduce expenditures from public money, they came on same page with the government when the matter was taken up in Punjab Assembly.

Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik M Ahmad Khan while responding to the point of order by Opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan remarked that it is the privilege of assembly to decide salaries of MPAs. This is noteworthy that the legislators across the divide held discussions on two consecutive days and supported empowerment of Speaker Punjab Assembly to decide about the salaries, perks and privileges of MPAs.

The issue was taken up by Opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad on a point of order a day ago after which the Speaker PA had reserved his ruling. On Thursday, while declaring the point of order of Opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan as valid, the Speaker ruled that the Constitution empowers the House to increase the salaries and expenditures of legislators.

In this connection, the Speaker remarked that the PA had also passed Allowances and Pay Act. He stated over the issue of salaries, the Punjab Assembly follows the pattern set by the National Assembly. He remarked that the members of assembly would themselves decide collectively about the increase in their salaries. The Speaker directed the administration to abide by the ruling after which Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan, the senior member of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (currently Sunni Ittehad Council), paid tribute to the Speaker in this regard.

Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, the Finance Minister, on the occasion stated that it would be better to include the word 'Speaker' instead of 'government’ in the Rules of Procedures over the issue of salaries of legislators.

However, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on the occasion remarked that under the law, it is the authority of the government not the Speaker. Sami Ullah Khan of PMLN on the occasion requested the Speaker to move this process forward and also stated he and the members of the House were well aware of the Punjab bureaucracy. Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan of Opposition on the occasion stated that the officials could not even get salaries if the House did not pass the budget. PA speaker on the occasion added the Constitution explains how to run the affairs of the House. He further stated that the matters of salaries were decided in the Constitution in 1974, 2006 and 2016. He also remarked the law had decided that the members of the House will receive basic pay equivalent to Grade 1 employees. The matter related to the increase in salaries of legislators remained pending in the assembly for years which is a disrespect to the House.

Meanwhile, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, an MPA from Chiniot, also demanded Blue Passport for the families of the MPAs. The Speaker stated the families of the MPAs also had to suffer for hours in the checking process.