More perks, privileges sought for speakers, Senate chairman

ISLAMABAD: In addition to the supremacy of Parliament, the two-day Speakers Conference also agreed on the demands for increased perks, privileges and powers for the speakers and the Senate chairman.

In the side meetings of the conference, they also made legislative commitments to secure those privileges. The speakers were of the view that more powers and privileges would make the Parliament stronger.

The speakers of the provincial assemblies declared that if the president and the governor were exempted, then the speakers and deputy speakers should also be exempt from arrest in any case and trial as long as they remain in office.

They were of unanimous view that legislation should also be enacted to make the speaker and deputy speakers the acting prime minister and chief minister, respectively in the absence of the prime minister or chief minister.

The speakers and the Senate chairman agreed that a case should be registered against the principal accounting officer of the assembly, and not against them, in case of any financial irregularities in the house.

The speakers of the provincial assemblies also demanded that they, as well as their family members should also have blue passports, like members of the National Assembly and Senate.

The speakers of the provincial assemblies also demanded that their salaries and benefits should be on par with those of high court judges, and that their salaries and benefits should also be exempt from tax.