Mastikhel demands disclosure of perks, privileges of MPs, top public officials

ISLAMABAD: A session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) witnessed a rare moment of candor on Tuesday when committee member Sardar Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel called for complete transparency regarding the perks and salaries of parliamentarians, Grade-22 bureaucrats, military generals and Supreme Court judges.

“Let the truth come out once and for all—this will settle who is more corrupt, the politicians or others,” Mastikhel remarked during the meeting, drawing smiles from PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar and others present. The outspoken PAC member urged the chairman to issue formal directions for the disclosure of benefits and compensation packages received by the country’s top public office holders. “Chairman sahib, are you afraid to give such a direction?” he asked pointedly. Mastikhel added that he was fully prepared to face any consequences for raising this demand, stressing the need for equal accountability across all state institutions. Chairman PAC Junaid Akbar responded by recalling his own attempt to obtain Toshakhana records, noting that while data pertaining to parliamentarians was provided, information about others was withheld.