Imran slams salary raise demand by MPs

kiyani · October 22, 2003, 11:35pm

First time i saw him in the news!

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has said the demand for an increase in the salaries of parliamentarians is a “cruel joke” on the people of Pakistan.

In a statement on Wednesday, he said the demand by the government MNAs at a time when parliament remains incomplete in the absence of constitutionally elected president, when the sovereignty of parliament has not been restored, when the 1973 Constitution is not fully restored and when power remains in the hands of a small military junta, becomes all the more ridiculous.

The PTI chief said the performance of parliament is poor primarily because the ruling party parliamentarians are acting as mere pawns of the establishment, which is determined to further discredit the political process, political parties and politicians. They are bent upon further discrediting democratic process in an attempt to perpetuate autocratic rule in the country.

Imran said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad is the only credible leader of the Islamic World whose words carry weight because of his success in leading Malaysia to new heights. He said Mahathir is the only Islamic leader who can bring the OIC out of its present slumber and failure to protect the vital interests of the Muslims of the world.

As long as the majority of OIC countries are led by puppets of the West, without representative governments that are not accountable to the people, the OIC would remain an Organisation of International Ceremonies (OIC) with no impact on the lives of the Muslims of the world, he said.

Shak_killS · October 23, 2003, 9:59am

Atleast he has guts to say this.

its shame that so called MP's who dont want to attend assembly need pay rises when many of pakistanis living under poverty line.

these shameful MPs can pass bill to increase pays for themselves.

it reminded me Punjab assembly in Wain as CM. He was the only one to oppose when all MPs voted yes for their own pay rise.

how low can they get??

about Mahatir he is 100% right. He is only credible leader left in these ceremonial leaders.

Haris · October 23, 2003, 12:25pm

it proves it once again how much these democratically elected ppl feel for the ordinary man who is going hungry, sleeping on road sides, wearing torn dirty clothes. All they care about is that they should make it to the parliament once in a lifetime somehow (or else they probabaly think they haven't lived) and make sure they provide all their family & friends loans, lands, high posts etc and for themselves the same things multiplied a hundred times.
I remember last yr when the govt was being formed all the MPs & MNAs created a similar joke by demanding brand new cars for themselves. The govt was providing latest toyotas to all MPs and a few didnt get brand new ones due to a shortage and thus made a fuss out of it.

Imran Khan sure is a diff breed, i hope he gets to contribute to pakistan's well being someday.

Zabardast · October 23, 2003, 2:17pm

In one year...the assemblies' performance is zero...I think they should return the money they already have receiveed...No cure, No pay! :)

Zakk · October 23, 2003, 5:19pm

The whole salary raise idea was done in a way which left a bad taste in most people's mouth. Kudos to Imran Khan for actually saying no to it, but what will he do if the salary increase goes through?

Sadly politicians are the only people who can vote to raise their salary! On the other hand you need to give politciians a decent salary otherwise they'll find better ways of lining their pocket.