ISLAMABAD: Chairing a high-level meeting, National Assembly Speaker Amir Hussain approved enhanced ceiling, double than the federal ministers, for his mobile facility but ironically refused the same to the deputy speaker. An official confirmed that the speaker doubled his cellular phone ceiling to Rs 15,000 a month while cabinet ministers and his deputy speaker will get only half of that amount, a top level financial meeting decided recently.
An official of the National Assembly Secretariat formally confirmed and defended the raise in mobile phone facility for the speaker. He said the raise has been approved keeping in view the hectic duties of the speaker as he remains in touch with MNAs and other dignitaries. He said the committee also disposed of other agenda items.
In addition to mobile phone, ministers and speaker NA are allowed unlimited phone facility at their offices and residences. The issue of enhanced ceiling for mobile phone facility of the speaker came up at a recent meeting of the Finance Committee held in the parliament house. The 18 members committee meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. Sources claimed that the finance minister was not in favour of the raise.
Shameful behaviour, but perfectly in line with what Pakistani politicians are capable of, whatever political party they may hail from. On the positive side it does say the Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz was against this measure, but then again he is one of Musharraf's technocrat minsiters, not exactly cut from the same dirty cloth as most Pakistani politicians.
This sort of action perfectly justifies why Musharraf must remain at the helm of state affairs with executive powers to the stop looting and plunder that was prevelant in the 1990's.
While the speaker representing the Musharraf League did step out of line, I do prefer this person’s salary.
if compared with the salary scale of Rs 130,000-10,000-160,000 a month that is given to Nepra’s chairman.Instead of staying put in the plebeian parliamentary apartments, the same officer is also entitled to hire a house up to the limit of Rs 70,000 a month in Islamabad. In addition to all this, elaborate arrangements have also been made to take care of the utilities’ expenses of his, besides the chauffeur driven car and reimbursement of medical and hospitalisation charges for self, spouse and children.
