Punjab Assembly’s ill-timed salary package boost
The astronomical, mind-boggling increase in the salary and perks of the august elected representatives of the Punjab Assembly struck people like a bolt from the blue, causing widespread anger, dismay and incredulity. The feelings of foolish naivety and cynicism were reinforced among ordinary citizens, once the lionised, pampered voters, as they questioned the dubious priorities of individuals whom they so fondly elected in July 2018 for better changing their own lives and the country’s destiny. At a time when national finances are dehydrated to a life-threatening extent and the Finance Minister has recently warned that future inflation would cause people to cry (as if present utility bills don’t elicit that emotional reaction), the elected representatives in their wisdom on March 13 chose to pass the Punjab Public Representatives Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019, sweetening their overall salary perquisites by a massive two-fold to six-fold. And the whole parliamentary process took just a few minutes, as otherwise sworn political enemies gleefully joined hands for the mutually beneficial exercise. None of Caesar’s ‘what touches us ourselves shall be last served’ here. The sloganeering and mayhem which prevails inside the House when an urgent matter of public interest is under debate, was nowhere in evidence this time, the ‘ayes’ had it all the way, unanimously.
However, this brazenly self-serving performance seems destined for a short shelf life. An incensed Prime Minister Imran Khan has termed the measure disappointing and ordered its gubernatorial return and its reappraisal. Apart from being diametrically opposed to his avowed austerity drive, it is an unacceptable anomaly when the country is on a begging and borrowing spree. The Prime Minister has rightly halted the extravagance, and the party faithful who initially supported the absurd pay increase are hastily backtracking, except for the PTI’s ‘lateling’ electable, deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, who calls the measure ‘a wonderful step’. By one reckoning the Punjab assembly’s gratuities would have exceeded those of the National Assembly, of the PM, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, federal cabinet ministers and ordinary members alike, which is illogical. But the imperial ‘incentive’ of providing a lifelong residence in Lahore to the (formerly) rustic, ‘simple Simon’ chief minister is definitely out and now his very job may be in jeopardy.
