[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]At a time when the nation has been experiencing a serious financial crisis, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday rejected the legislation granting the Senate chairman, his deputy, members, and chairmen of the upper house of parliament certain privileges and allowances.
Shazia Atta Marri, spokesperson for the PPP and federal minister for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, opposed the “Chairman Senate (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Bill, 2023,” stating that “the PPP rejects the bill pertaining to the Senate chairman privilege bill.”
Just days after the bills were passed by the Senate with input from senators of various political parties, including the PPP, the PML-N, the PTI, and others, the PPP spokesperson issued the official statement regarding the disapproval of the bills – one for Senate chairman, deputy chairman, and members, respectively.
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Marri claimed that “the PPP leadership has categorically rejected the bills and disassociated itself from the same,” adding that the “party leadership has also expressed displeasure at the bills providing extraordinary facilities to the privileged ones amid a financial crunch.”
Also Read: 5th round of political consultations with Russia today.
The measures “were not in the knowledge of the party leadership,” according to Marri, the PPP’s communication secretary, who also claimed they were inconsistent with party policy and could not be supported.
She revealed that on Monday morning, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Parliamentarian President Asif Ali Zardari, and several other senior party figures discussed the bills and not only “rejected” them but also expressed concerns about passing them at a time when the country is grappling with extreme poverty, skyrocketing inflation, and a dire financial crisis.
Surprisingly, the bills guaranteeing perks and privileges for senators, staff members, and occasionally their families, mention the names of several PPP bigwigs, including Yousaf Raza Gilani, Farooq Hamid Naek, Raza Rabbani, and Taj Haider, right beneath the same Statement of Objects and Reasons.
In response to a query, Marri noted that although the names of PPP luminaries were present, the party’s stance was completely at odds with what had been stated in the bills and that it would be upheld.
In contrast to the Senate, which assures equal representation regardless of the population size of any federating unit, the National Assembly represents federating units based on population, according to the statement of objects and reasons.
Additionally, it states that the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly and the chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate have different powers and responsibilities in various areas and different election processes.
Despite the aforementioned laws, it goes on to say that the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act of 1974 treats senators and NA members separately and fails to adequately explain or provide for the duties and obligations of both positions.
It argued that by removing the clauses insofar as they applied to senators and for matters incidental thereto, the bill would provide separate provisions for Senate members from the current ones.
The Senate Chairman shall receive a salary of Rs. 205,000, a sumptuary allowance of Rs. 50,000 per mensem [month], equipment allowance of Rs. 5,000, actual travel expenses for himself and his family, and “the cost of transporting personal servants, not exceeding two, by the lowest class of accommodation,” as per the bill pertaining to the Senate Chairman.
Additionally, according to the bill, “The chairman and members of his family shall be entitled to the use of official vehicles maintained at Government expense.” During his tenure in office, the chairman is entitled to the use of a home without having to pay rent. The document further states that the assessed rent for a home that the chairman has rented must never go over Rs. 250,000 per mensem.
According to the document, the official residence must be furnished at a cost to the government that does not exceed Rs5,000,000 per term. If the chairman is not given an official residence, he or she should be paid the actual cost of furnished housing up to a maximum of Rs500,000 per semester.
It states that if the chairman choose to live in his own home, he will be compensated with a monthly salary of Rs. 250,000 in lieu of furnished housing and to cover all maintenance costs. The government may pay for the chairman to set up a residential office.
Free telephone, travel & protocol, daily allowance while halt, and other provisions are included in separate agreements. According to the bill, the chairman and his family have a right to medical services at both public and private institutions as well as at their official house.
The chairman has the option to contribute to a provident fund, hire personal employees, get a discretionary grant of Rs. 1,800,000, and take three months off for their health or personal matters. If an air mishap results in his death or serious injury, he will also receive Rs. 10 million in compensation.
According to the bill, anyone who has served as chairman for the full duration of a three-year term is entitled to full security details for life, which include six sentries at the declared residence and four police, anti-terrorism, Rangers, Frontier Corps, or Constabulary officers in a squad car, provided that the federal or provincial governments make the necessary arrangements.
Similar privileges and facilities have also been extended to senators, committee chairs, and deputy chairs of the Senate, with some alterations to the amounts that are less than the Senate chairman.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
