KARACHI, Nov 14: The central president of the Railway Workers’ Federation, Manzoor Ahmad Razi, has termed the grant of a 100 per cent rise in the salaries and perks of legislators shameful.

A press release quotes Mr Razi as saying that because of widespread poverty in the country, people are committing suicides. “Low-ranking government officials are eking out a bare existing while legislators are already privileged.

It does not stand to reason why this privileged class is being given such lucrative packages,” he said.

He praised those legislators who refused to avail themselves of the rise in salaries.

He demanded that the salaries of low-ranking government officials should also be raised and they be given an Eid allowance.