KARACHI, March 15: The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed by a majority vote four government bills increasing by up to 660 per cent the salaries/ honoraria, fringe benefits, perks and allowances of the speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, special assistants and lawmakers with a retrospective effect from July 1, 2011.

Law minister Ayaz Soomro presented the bills.

The assembly also passed, by a majority vote, two private bills granting salaries, allowances and privileges for the speaker, deputy speaker and chief minister for life.

The bill relating to the speaker and deputy speaker was presented by Dr Sikandar Mandhro and the one relating to the chief minister was presented by Mujadid Isran.

The facilities that the speaker, deputy speaker and chief minister will each receive for life include: 70 per cent salary and allowances per month; one private secretary (BPS 17); one orderly (BPS 05); one driver (BPS 04); one cook (BPS 04); one mali (BPS 01) and one sanitary worker (BPS 01); lifetime police security; landline and mobile phone facility up to Rs10,000 per month.

Protesting the move, opposition members belonging to the Muttahida Quami Movement, Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), PML (Arbab group) and National People’s Party boycotted the proceedings and staged a walkout from the house.

Initially, the opposition members opposed the bills by shouting ‘No’ but when Speaker Nisar Khuhro put the bills to a vote the lawmakers left the assembly.

In Section 3A of the Sindh Speaker’s, Deputy Speaker’s (salaries, allowances and privileges) Act 1975, the figure ‘Rs5,000’ has been substituted with ‘Rs7,000’. In Section 6(2), the figures Rs39,500 and Rs35,000 have been substituted with Rs55,300 and Rs49,000, respectively. In Section 8, the figure Rs6,000 has been substituted with Rs8,000. Similarly, in Section 10, ‘Rs550’ has been substituted with Rs770.

Ministers, special assistants, MPAs

In Section 7(2) of the Sindh Ministers (salaries, allowances and privileges) Act 1975, the figure of Rs39,000 will be substituted with Rs54,600.

Similarly, in Section 8(2) of the Sindh Special Assistant (appointment, powers, functions, salaries, allowances and privileges) Act 2003, the figure Rs11,000 has been replaced with Rs15,400.

The assembly also approved the Sindh Assembly Members (Salaries and Allowances) (Amendment) bill 2009. According to the amendment, in Section 3 of the Sindh Assembly Members (salaries and allowances) Act 1974, the figure of Rs15,000 has been substituted with Rs24,800; in Section 3A, words Rs3,000 have been substituted with Rs4,800; in Section 3B words Rs10,000 have been substituted with Rs16,000; and in Section 3C, words Rs3,000 have been substituted with Rs4,800.

Similarly, in Section 4 of the act, words Rs550 and Rs400 have been replaced with Rs880 and Rs600, respectively. In Section 4B words Rs1,500 have been substituted with Rs2,400 and in Section 5 in subsection(1) “Rs3” has been substituted with “Rs20”; in Section 5A(i) subsection (1), Rs40,000 has been substituted with Rs120,000.

Two new facilities will also be given to the MPAs under the bill. The MPAs will receive cellphone charges at the rate of Rs10,000 a month and that their salary and other emoluments shall automatically be increased by the government in proportion to the increase made in the salary of the civil servant in BPS 22 from time to time.

The increase had been recommended by the Sindh Assembly standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs and human rights. Headed by Bachal Shah, the committee comprised Mujadid Isran, Pir Amjad, Najamuddin Abro, Kulsoom Chandio, Humera Alwani, Muqeem Alam, Bilquis Mukhtar, Khalid Ahmed, Mohammad Shoaib and Nusrat Abbasi. The committee had held five meetings — on May 13, 2009, May 19, 2009, April 6, 2010, April 14, 2010 and Feb 29, 2012 — before making the recommendations. Special invitees who gave their input in different meetings were Dr Sikander Mandhro, Sardar Ahmed, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Ayaz Soomro, Ali Mardan Shah and Anwer Maher.