Following NA's lead, KPK assembly passes an increase in salaries and perks

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K-P lawmakers approve hefty pay rise for themselves
By Sohail Khattak
Published: January 25, 2017
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PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Tuesday increased monthly salaries of the chief minister, his cabinet members, as well as other MPAs by adopting three separate bills.

After the raise, the CM’s salary increased from Rs40,000 to Rs200,000 while the salary of each cabinet member – including minister, adviser, special assistant and parliamentary secretary – was raised from Rs35,000 per month to Rs180,000 per month.

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Salaries of the speaker and deputy speaker were also increased from Rs80,000 to Rs150,000 and from Rs54,000 to Rs145,000, respectively. The monthly salary of each MPA was increased from Rs18,000 to Rs80,000 via separate amendment bill tabled and passed from the assembly the same day.

This is the second increase in the MPAs salaries in the K-P Assembly’s current term. Earlier, the salary was raised from Rs12,000 per month to Rs18,000 per month.

Meanwhile, the assembly passed by a majority vote the K-P Police Bill 2017 by adopting amendments proposed by the assembly’s select committee. The opposition members opposed the bill.

These amendments pertained to the premature transfer of the inspector general of police (IGP), 5% quota for recruitment on Deputy Superintendent Post (DSP) via the K-P Public Service Commission and the chief minister’s power to order an inquiry against an officer of the police.

In his speech, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the assembly’s job is to make the system through legislation and then to leave it for those who are responsible for running it. He said no political interference is made in police outside Pakistan.

“If I take this power with me then I understand what pressure the police will face,” he said referring to political interferences, which, according to him, have destroyed systems.

“I have seen this system in my 35-year-long political career. I have seen how police stations are used. We have brought them out of slavery and made them powerful,” he added

Khattak said it was high time to get rid of the culture in which ministers are surrounded by people with files in their hands asking for favours and the ministers have to make them happy.

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Khattak said they have not left the police unmonitored and unchecked rather they have put 7 different checks on the police and he himself has the power to keep a check.

Speaking on the police bill, the opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rahman said the law will create problems in K-P. “I am telling you on the floor of this house that it will create problems. It is challenging the provincial autonomy,” he said.

He said his party was not against transfer of powers to the IGP to make transfers and postings in the province. “The IGP should be given free hand in making transfers and postings but this power should not be given to him through this law.”

Rahman claimed that the bill was against the spirit of the 18th amendment as it transferred the province’s powers to the Centre. The ANP’s Sardar Hussain Babak also called the law an affront to provincial autonomy.

The K-P Assembly also approved the K-P Ehtesab Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2017.