After PM's criticism, Punjab Assembly speaker amends bill to omit lifetime perks for CM
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Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday reviewed the bill regarding a raise in salaries of provincial lawmakers and amended the clause detailing the perks and privileges accorded to the chief minister before the bill is sent to the governor for final approval.
An earlier version of the bill prescribed a six-fold increase in the salary of the chief minister, three-fold raise for the speaker, deputy speaker and ministers and a two-fold increase for MPAs, besides enhancing their perks.
The amendment made today removed the lifetime perks and privileges of the chief minister, leaving intact only "suitable and adequate security". It could not be immediately confirmed if the salary figures for the MPAs were reduced.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had on Thursday expressed his strong displeasure over the move made by the Punjab Assembly to raise the salaries following which, despite the bill having been passed unanimously, it was held back for amendment.
“I am extremely disappointed by decision of Punjab Assembly to raise pays & privileges of MPAs, Ministers & esp CM. Once prosperity returns to Pak such a move cld be justified, but now, when we do not have resources to provide basic amenities to all our people, this is untenable,” the premier had said in a tweet.
He said the chief minister should not be provided a house for a lifetime, as laid down in the bill, and the facility should be restricted to just three months.
Employing powers granted to him under Section 200 of the Assembly Rules, 1997, the speaker today omitted the following perks and privileges given for a lifetime to every person who, after the general elections of 2002, has held the office of chief minister for a period not less than six months:
- Suitable and adequate security including provision of close protection services with at least one vehicle (SUV) of engine capacity not less than 2500cc with five security personnel in the vehicle, excluding driver, which the government shall make available
- One personal secretary and two junior clerks to be arranged by the government
- A new vehicle with driver maintained at the expense of the government
- Payment of Rs10,000 per month as telephone allowance
- A government-maintained residence of adequate standard in Lahore subject to the condition that the former chief minister does not own any residence in Lahore
The entire text above has now been removed to state that every person who has held the chief minister's office will be entitled to suitable and adequate security for a lifetime.
Speaking to DawnNewsTV regarding the development, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar said: "The prime minister has already expressed his stance on the issue. It would not be appropriate for me to express my opinion at this point."
He said he had learned of the fact that an amendment was being made in the bill but added that the draft was yet to reach him and he will review it once received.
Earlier, it was thought that the first version of the bill had reached the governor, prompting the premier to ask him to return it without signing it.
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Comments (58) Closed
Mar 16, 2019 01:43am
Life times perks are an elitist device.
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Mar 16, 2019 01:43am
The WHOLE thing is ridiculous! Not by any means like the khulafa.
Benefits should ONLY be for duration as MPA; never lifetime.
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Mar 16, 2019 01:44am
Looks like a publicity stunt. MPs pass a bill PM tweets as if he doesn't have any other mean to communicate with his MPs. CM amends part of the bill, and we are supposed to be thankful now
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Mar 16, 2019 01:52am
It should be illegal for any entity to give itself a raise. That is just *Common Sense*
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Mar 16, 2019 01:58am
Wow! Easy street provisions for politicians and some for a lifetime. I am sure they
have earned and deserve such considerations from the public purse...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Mar 16, 2019 02:08am
That Honourable Governor, please stop this loot. Why there should be an increase in the salaries of MPA, Speakers , Ministers, CM. There salaries should only be increased in tandem with the increase in salaries of the provincial govt. servants. How can a house vote for their own salary increase. There salaries and perks should be debatable by a superior forum, e.g. Senate.
There should be no lifelong perks, even no security staff once they are no more in the office. Why tax payers should be penalized and for this purpose the country penalized to carry the financial burden of these politicians who only waste time in protesting
And making hooliganism. How can a 5 years job bring for someone the lifelong perks. ?
The DAWN should write an editorial on this topic.
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Mar 16, 2019 02:26am
This guy Buzdar Is a bad news for IK.
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Mar 16, 2019 02:42am
In other more democratic countries, including USA, the legislators cannot raise their salaries but only for the future legislature. Here, it is shockin. What exactly they do or had done any tangible work so far? No need for secretary, and two clers, and security. Once you are gone, you are gone. This is too much taxing on the government funds.
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Mar 16, 2019 02:42am
Mr CM, Are you not aware of country econominc condition? How you can increase your salary 6 times.
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Mar 16, 2019 02:48am
"Suitable and adequate" is a pretty vague description. They're trying to get around this thing
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Mar 16, 2019 02:56am
This amendment is peanuts, this whole bill should be turned over. It seems like IK knows about things after they happen. People voted for him to make a change but not like this.
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Mar 16, 2019 03:02am
Only IK cares for the poor, the rest of care are desperate to squeeze the poor.
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Mar 16, 2019 03:06am
Good that IK has stopped this bill. But IK should fire the CM. Why does he need security for lifetime.
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Mar 16, 2019 03:20am
How they could earlier have given so much to the CM for the lifetime? Driver, Secretary, residence and telephone allowance for lifetime to everyone holding CM office for 6 months? Even lifetime security should not be provided. If you are so scared, go get some other job!!
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Mar 16, 2019 03:22am
Public need to see the final version of this bill. Thanks to PM for being cognizant of this issue.
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Mar 16, 2019 03:22am
Our poltician are corrupt in their DNA. Thanks for our PM Ik who is the only ray of hope for our nation.
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Mar 16, 2019 03:32am
I think CM needs to take some rest and leave this job for some sensible human being, no extra income for elected servants while whole nation is straggling.
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Mar 16, 2019 04:09am
Did they think they would be able to get at least a 6 fold increase without the PM noticing it? Do you all have any shame even proposing this bill seeing pakistan’s Economic situation? I would say there should be a policy that states freezes on any salary increases for at least 5 years with one caveat that this could be repelled if we are able to achieve X before 5 years.
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Mar 16, 2019 04:39am
Mr. Buzdar has shown his true colors. Like a white elephant he is good for nothing. P.M. Imran khan should get rid of him without hesitation.
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Mar 16, 2019 04:43am
Bill should be scrapped in its entirety.
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Mar 16, 2019 04:58am
Since the existing salaries are low, they may increase their salaries by 20%. There should be no perks after retirement, except security for one year.
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Mar 16, 2019 05:00am
IK always spoke of Usman Buzdar as a very simple and honest man who came from one of the least developed areas of the country, how then could this man accept a house of the government constructed from tax payers money for a life time.I wonder whose idea it was to give this lifetime benefit to the CM of Punjab, was it Usman Buzdars.
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Mar 16, 2019 05:01am
Punjab CM got the opportunity to loot the country?
Imran did a good job stopping all this corruption.
No such perks for life , cars, house or guard should be allowed.
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Mar 16, 2019 05:11am
What ? No comments to justify this from the PTI jiyalas on the Dawn discussion boards ? Surely they can defend this move also with a made-up excuse - at least say that PPP and PML-N did the same which is a standard excuse to justify the corruption of the current government. What a shameful act - talking about poverty and begging for loans and overseas donations, just so that the privileged can suck more money from the drying coffers of Pakistan in perpetuity.
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Mar 16, 2019 05:37am
This is absolute " Robbery of the Public Trust & Purse " ...........disgracefull behaviour.
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Mar 16, 2019 05:43am
At least the CM achieved something in his first six months. I don't know what else PM has been expecting from him given CM's extensive background in unpublished and unknown achievements!
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Mar 16, 2019 05:48am
This is what happens when one appoints a person with out any vision
One can not lead the blind forever
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Mar 16, 2019 06:13am
Good Amendment by Speaker he really thinks for security people.
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Mar 16, 2019 06:34am
Wonder what services Punjab CM rendered to deserve lifetime benefits? I think Sindh assembly passed similar bill which was a big surprise for hard working tax payers of the country. Please think again, can tax payers afford to give so much money to their elected assembly members when country is trying to bring its overblown debt payment under control. Thank you.
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Mar 16, 2019 06:45am
Wow.... what a decision!
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Mar 16, 2019 06:50am
The perks and privileges should be accorded for the MP,s,CM and other relevant people. The policy of judges and doctors were the same and I think there were positive consequences and the same should be exercised ise here.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:04am
Govt. Of wasim akram
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Mar 16, 2019 07:11am
good
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Mar 16, 2019 07:20am
This bill has exposed the mentality of our representative who come to assemblies after spending crores of rupees that they want to avail every opportunity to benefit themselves. It also showed that Imran is the loan worrier and is different from others. These representative come to improve the standard of living of masses but after joining parliament give priority to their personal interest.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:33am
Shame on law makers. While the poor can’t afford daily bread and elite class wants to become richer and richer. How can Pakistan make progress where nobody thinks for a common man. Selfish behavior
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Mar 16, 2019 07:33am
What have they done for US...Pakistanis???
Why lifetime perks???
The same is for grade 22 retired officers.
Go and check 10 Downing Street.See How PM lives in 2 bedrooms flat.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:34am
IK needs to sack the CM to set the record straight. The CM has no judgement and or leadership - this proposed bill demonstrates these unfortunate facts.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:52am
There is always a danger when you allow the chickens to open the feed bag...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Mar 16, 2019 08:06am
IK's tweet is a mere drama, now everything will be approved after this slight amendment imposing huge expenses on Punjabi people but at the same time making IK look like a hero. I doubt if Buzdar can even breathe without his approval. When you (IK) bring sub-par people, then this is what you get. Any surprise? Were you expecting miracles?
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Mar 16, 2019 08:08am
No Go! Shame on the the speaker & other cronies.
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Mar 16, 2019 08:10am
Buzdar is incompetent & should be fired.
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Mar 16, 2019 08:18am
@Omair, you summarized it well.
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Mar 16, 2019 08:59am
@Omair, - Pervaiz Elahi at his peak of parliamentary intelligence. This is what the people have been waiting for in Naya Pakistan. Speaker of the NA in last PPP government did something like this during her last days in the assembly. PTI doing the same with help from Choudrys. Wonderful.
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Mar 16, 2019 09:06am
Salam Sir: These so called public servants are not to suck blood from blood less poor citizens of Pakistan. I thought with PM's comments, Law makers would reverse the entire bill.
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Mar 16, 2019 10:15am
@Omair, A wild conjecture, not a convincing argument.
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Mar 16, 2019 10:33am
PTI and IK continues to be governed through TV as they come to know of important decisions through TV. Practically, people are not seeing any 'positive' change as things are moving only as they used to be in all the past governments. The only proclaimed changes are in fact on twitter and social media !
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Mar 16, 2019 11:01am
Why should there be increase in salary and perks. These people chose to SERVE fellow citizens accepting these privileges and no one requested or begged them for their services.
I think all MNAs and MPAs should have all the privileges removed immediately, even the vehicle privilege as if he/she cannot afford to GIVE to people they should not be there.
These people have crores of rupees to spend on election campaign and are affording private security but are ready to steal from people when they are elected. When are we going to grow up as nation and get rid of such people once and for all.
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Mar 16, 2019 11:26am
@Omer, : nobody will give him another job.Only illitrate people vote for such persons who raise their own salaries and pass bills for lifelong perks with the money of the poors.
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Mar 16, 2019 02:39pm
These so called lawmakers pass a bill in seconds regarding their salaries and allowance.
More than 90% MPs and MNAs even cant explain the meaning of law. How can they make laws?
Thats the reason that Pakistan is lagging behind many African countries.
Policy makers must work on that.
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Mar 16, 2019 06:10pm
Nothing should be life time. Perks must be limited to tenure only.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:33pm
Governor should reject the whole bill till economy improves the lives of millions.
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Mar 16, 2019 07:36pm
Lifetime?
What is this?
Are such people from other planet?
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Mar 16, 2019 08:44pm
Why this sudden 2.5 to 3 times increase in pay n perks of MPAs, Mimisters, Speaker, CM of Punjab, at this point of time when country is on WAR FOOTING on two fronts, Financial Crunch and our Stand off with India.
The present increase of pay bill, should be delayed and announced during country's budget for 2019/2020, like all other govt employees incl Armed Forces, who normally get 5, 10 or max 15% increase annually.
If the pays of Punjab Ruling elite n MPAs is lesser than other Provinces, it should be brought at par with those during the coming budget in June 2019. Passing of such Bill's for pays, perks increase of MNAs, Senators, MPA be disallowed. Instead all increases in pay etc of all Ruling classes, elected reps at National/Provincial level should be considered, approved alongwith all govt employees and Armed Forces at the recommendations of National/provincial Pay Committeeso in each year budget at the same ratio/percentage and announced in the budget by the Finance Minister.
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Mar 16, 2019 10:53pm
Over six-fold increase in the salary of the CM? Even a 2 to 3 fold increase in salaries would entail a similar increase in the salaries, perks and pensions of the staff. This would become a big chain reaction across the board.
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Mar 16, 2019 11:44pm
A sitting assembly should never be allowed to set it's own pay and perks.
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Mar 17, 2019 03:00pm
SS stated yesterday that he did not draw any salary nor claim any medical allowances for the ten years he was the CM. Why isn't credit given when it is due? The assembly is about to ask for a six fold increase in the CMs salary!
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Mar 18, 2019 08:19pm
How come PTI's central executive committee remained unware that Pti Punjab MPAs are going to prepare and pass this bill ??
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Mar 19, 2019 02:54am
@ Omair - yes better then the loot khasoot done by your PML-N and PPP in the last 30 years !
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