Court moved against MPAs’ pay raise bill

LAHORE: A bill passed by the Punjab Assembly that envisaged a considerable increase in salaries and perks of chief minister, ministers, speaker/deputy speaker and all members has been challenged before the Lahore High Court.

Through a pro bono writ petition, a local lawyer assailed the bill pleading that the assembly members passed it with mala fide intention for their own interest in violation of the state policy of austerity measures at the cost of tax payer money.

The petitioner argued that the impugned bill is a sheer violation of legal maxim coined by Sir Edward Coke that “no-one should be a judge in his own case” and thus it is also a violation of the principle of natural justice.

He stated that no opinion was sought from the finance secretary of the province that what economic effect the impugned bill will create on national exchequer and also that whether the provincial kitty can afford this economic burden, which is a very common practice.

The lawyer pointed out that the impugned Punjab Public Representatives’ Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 was tabled by a treasury member and was immediately referred to a committee concerned for report by the deputy speaker.

He submitted that the provincial law minister did not oppose the bill to the delight of the assembly members and the bill was finally approved with consensus.

The petitioner-lawyer asked the court to declare the impugned bill illegal and mala fide being violative of the principles of natural justice. As an immediate relief, he urged the court to suspend the operation of impugned bill until the decision of the petition.