The opposition on Monday protested in the National Assembly over the government’s move to introduce a bill seeking an exorbitant increase of over 530 per cent in the president’s salary, terming it “unnecessary and illogical”.
The bill was introduced by minister in charge of the cabinet secretariat Sheikh Aftab Ahmed soon after failing to give a satisfactory reply to a call attention notice regarding “the non-payment of salaries of temporary teachers of Islamabad model colleges and schools” for the past three months despite release of funds by the finance ministry.
“We respect the office of the president. But already we are spending billions on the Presidency. Why does he need a salary raise?” said Rashid Godil of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) while objecting to the government’s move to introduce the bill suggesting that the president’s salary be increased to Rs846,550 from the existing pay of Rs133,333.
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The MQM MNA regretted that on the one hand, the minister was unable to give any commitment regarding the payment of salaries to the teachers and on the other hand, he was quick in moving the bill to increase the president’s salary.
