Twice in one term?
Getting into the assemblies in Pakistan requires huge expenses which often run into eight figures. This has led some to call the legislative bodies ‘millionaires’ clubs.’ However, here and there a few lower-middle class politicians manage to scrape through despite meager resources. This mini-minority genuinely needs not only a monthly salary but also a periodic raise in consonance with rising prices and service charges. The majority, which has no economic worries however, enthusiastically supports the demand for better emoluments. Despite strong differences over political issues, legislators put their disagreements aside when it comes to the demand for pay-raise. This happened the other day when KP lawmakers unanimously approved a hefty pay-raise for themselves. This was the second increase in the MPA’s salaries in the K-P Assembly’s current term.
Few would object to the demands for pay-hike if parliamentarians were seen to be fulfilling their duties satisfactorily. These include regular attendance, where they show a dismal performance. The prime minister and leaders like Imran Khan rarely attend the NA proceedings. This affects common MNAs. According to PILDAT, which conducts surveys of the legislative bodies, the attendance in the National Assembly in 2015-2016 was recorded at 61% of the membership, with 206 of 340 members being present on average per sitting. However, over the 103 sittings during the year, quorum was lacking 17 times, indicating that while MNAs may have attended the House, many stayed only long enough to mark their attendance. This affects legislative work with unsatisfactory progress on the passage of bills. The situation is no different in the provincial assemblies. A PILDAT study of total hours of work put in by provincial assemblies during the same year shows Punjab Assembly meeting for 193 working hours followed by Sindh Assembly for 182 hours, KP Assembly for 126 hours and the Balochistan Assembly for just 95 hours! With the overall performance being unsatisfactory followed by pay-raise and demand for more perks and privileges, the law makers do not add to their prestige.
