Senate rejects bill seeking increase for lawmakers salaries

A bill that proposed an increase in the salaries of lawmakers (parliamentarians) was rejected by the Senate on Monday because of the current economical crisis.

The bill was rejected by 29 votes with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) all opposing the bill.

However, there were 16 votes in favor of the legislation with Muttahida Ouami Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakhunkhra Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) both in favor of the increase in salaries of lawmakers or parliamentarians.

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Senator Sherry Rehman who is the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) said:

We will not support the bill on the salary increase for parliamentarians,

Public money needs to be spent on public relief right now,

She said that during the current economic crisis of the country, this wasn’t the right time for such a matter to be considered and lawmakers to demand something like this.

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According to the bill, amendment was sought out to the Chairman and Speaker Salaries, Allowances and Privileges Act 1975 to increase the salary of the National Assembly (NA) Speaker and Senate Chairman from Rs. 250,000 straight to Rs. 870,000.

In the same way an increase was sought in the salary of Deputy Chairman and National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker from Rs. 185,000 to Rs. 829,000 by making amendment to the Deputy Chairman and Deputy Speaker Salaries, Allowance and Privileges Act 1975.

The bill also sought amendment to the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances Act 1974 for an increase to the salaries from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 300,000.

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