Parliament and the working class

The move by the federal government to increase the salaries of parliamentarians seems aimed at seeking unconditional support of opposition parties. According to the interior minister, this monumental increase is due to high inflation, which is higher than 2004. This lame excuse does not make any sense since inflation impacts every citizen equally. This unprecedented rise in their pay has caused resentment among working class, low paid government employees and pensioners. The meager annual increases in the salaries of government employees are insignificant as compared to what these parliamentarians have received. This is even worst considering that parliamentarians rarely attend scheduled sessions. Meetings are often adjourned due to the absence of quorum.

The cabinet seems to be oblivious to the difficulties faced by the working class, government servants as well as those on whom fortune does not smile. The increase in salaries of the elected representatives, who already are loaded with money is discouraging for struggling middle and lower middle classes of the country. Therefore, the government should reconsider this step and for once think about elevating standard of living of the lower level government servants and labourers who toil from dawn to dusk to earn enough to make it through the day.

Raja Shafaatullah

Islamabad