MPAs demand more perks and privileges
Source : http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=121528
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
By Tahir Hasan Khan
Karachi
Sindh Assembly members and ministers through a resolution on Monday demanded more perks and privileges including cars, offices, staff, telephones, computers, laptops and official passports for the whole family.
Monday was the last day of the budget session and members from both opposition and treasury benches demanded in one voice for perks and privileges and the house carried a resolution unanimously, demanding the provincial government to ask the federal government to provide official passports for MPAs and their family members.
The resolution for official passports was moved by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member Dr Sikandar Mundrio and after discussion the resolution was amended and the word ‘family’ was included in the resolution.
The members from both sides spoke for more then 20 minutes on the issue as the last item of the day after the chair granted the permission.
However, the issue of increase of price of wheat flour could not be discussed in the house despite the fact that an opposition MPA drew the attention of the speaker towards the issue saying that the flour was sold in the market at Rs30 per kg on Monday and the price of 100kg bag of flour was available at Rs2,700 to 2,800 and nobody was taking notice of the issue.
The opposition MPA said it was a conspiracy against the PPP-led government who had come into power with the slogan of “Roti, Kapra oar Makan”.No other member talked on the issue and the government opted to ignore the issue.
Later, Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Jadoon raised the issue of facilities to MPAs as last item of the agenda saying that official cars have been provided to town and Taluka Nazims and demanded that cars should also be provided to MPAs as they are elected representative.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro replied in a lighter mood and said members should also demand computers and even laptops. Sindh Minister Rafiq Engineer pointed out that office, phone and staff was provided to members in the House of Commons in the UK.
Leader of opposition, Jam Madad, also demanded that an office should also be provided to the leader of opposition while the MQM minister Faisal Sabzwari supported Jam Madad and suggested that apart from the provision of offices for MPAs in the new assembly building a laptop be provided to each member.
He demanded that medical facilities also be provided to parents of MPAs. Information Minister Shazia Marri demanded that official passports be provided to parents, as according to her, they all were there (in the assembly) owing to their parents.
Some ministers and members pointed out that only spouse and children are entitled for perks and opposition’s Arif Jatoi pointed out that under the rules and business of the interior ministry, only wife and children are entitled for the perks and privileges.
Food Minister Nadir Magsi suggested that official passports be provided to ‘wives’ and children and Shazia Marri insisted that parents should also be included. Later, the resolution was amended and the world ‘family’ was included in the resolution before being carried unanimously.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
By Tahir Hasan Khan
Karachi
Sindh Assembly members and ministers through a resolution on Monday demanded more perks and privileges including cars, offices, staff, telephones, computers, laptops and official passports for the whole family.
Monday was the last day of the budget session and members from both opposition and treasury benches demanded in one voice for perks and privileges and the house carried a resolution unanimously, demanding the provincial government to ask the federal government to provide official passports for MPAs and their family members.
The resolution for official passports was moved by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member Dr Sikandar Mundrio and after discussion the resolution was amended and the word ‘family’ was included in the resolution.
The members from both sides spoke for more then 20 minutes on the issue as the last item of the day after the chair granted the permission.
However, the issue of increase of price of wheat flour could not be discussed in the house despite the fact that an opposition MPA drew the attention of the speaker towards the issue saying that the flour was sold in the market at Rs30 per kg on Monday and the price of 100kg bag of flour was available at Rs2,700 to 2,800 and nobody was taking notice of the issue.
The opposition MPA said it was a conspiracy against the PPP-led government who had come into power with the slogan of “Roti, Kapra oar Makan”.No other member talked on the issue and the government opted to ignore the issue.
Later, Sindh Transport Minister Akhtar Jadoon raised the issue of facilities to MPAs as last item of the agenda saying that official cars have been provided to town and Taluka Nazims and demanded that cars should also be provided to MPAs as they are elected representative.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro replied in a lighter mood and said members should also demand computers and even laptops. Sindh Minister Rafiq Engineer pointed out that office, phone and staff was provided to members in the House of Commons in the UK.
Leader of opposition, Jam Madad, also demanded that an office should also be provided to the leader of opposition while the MQM minister Faisal Sabzwari supported Jam Madad and suggested that apart from the provision of offices for MPAs in the new assembly building a laptop be provided to each member.
He demanded that medical facilities also be provided to parents of MPAs. Information Minister Shazia Marri demanded that official passports be provided to parents, as according to her, they all were there (in the assembly) owing to their parents.
Some ministers and members pointed out that only spouse and children are entitled for perks and opposition’s Arif Jatoi pointed out that under the rules and business of the interior ministry, only wife and children are entitled for the perks and privileges.
Food Minister Nadir Magsi suggested that official passports be provided to ‘wives’ and children and Shazia Marri insisted that parents should also be included. Later, the resolution was amended and the world ‘family’ was included in the resolution before being carried unanimously.
