Sindh legislators want more perks, privileges, pay, passports ......!

Karachi, July 1 : It seems Pakistan legislators' primary job is to first introduce legislations and then get them passed on the floor of the House, raising perks and privileges they are themselves entitled to. At times these resolutions bring in hefty pay packages for them, and on other occasions shower new perks and allowances.

Yesterday, MPAs and ministers in the Sindh Assembly introduced a resolution demanding more perks and privileges, including cars, offices, staff, telephones, computers, laptops and official passports for the whole family, reported The News.

As it was the last day of the Assembly's Budget Session, members from both Opposition and Treasury benches demanded in one voice for perks and privileges and the house carried a resolution unanimously demanding of the provincial government to ask the federal government to provide official passports for MPAs and their family members.

Provincial Transport Minister Akhtar Jadoon reportedly raised the issue of facilities to MPAs, saying that official cars have been provided to town and Taluka Nazims and demanded that cars should also be provided to MPAs as they were elected representatives.

In a lighter mood, Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro said that 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 be provided to him, 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, added the paper.

He also demanded that medical facilities 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!

ANI