• Questions from the opposition leader condemn the SIFC performance, attacking the political opponents of the government
• assembly cleanses lawmakers’ high salary approval bill
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said on Tuesday that he had officially written to the government and opposition, in which the nomination for a parliamentary panel regarding the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). It was done and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The NA speaker revealed it during the House proceedings, while responding to various points raised by opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan. He said that after receiving the nomination, a parliamentary committee would be constituted.
In response to Mr Sadiq, Omar Ayub’s earlier comment, it was decided in principle that no point of discipline would be allowed during the question of time. He remarked, “We are following this strictly and will continue to follow it.”
Earlier, while talking on a point of view, the opposition leader questioned the performance of the Special Investment Facility Council, and trying to know the salaries, qualifications and production of people working with SIFC Details of the investment brought by the Council in Pakistan.
He said that the National Assembly has been made useless by the present government, complaining that his questions regarding SIFC have not been given any response.
Omar Ayub said that the government has extended CEC Alexander Sultan Raja, according to him, according to him, after violating the constitution for failing to violate the constitution and delaying the constitution. The case should have been tried under Article 6 for holding controversial elections. This was the case with two ECP members who had already completed their constitutional term.
The opposition leader reminded the speaker that he wrote a letter demanding the establishment of a parliamentary panel for the appointment of new CEC and ECP members. He added, “Unless the Independent Election Commission and electronic voting machines (EVMs) are present, the country cannot develop.
He alleged that the then Army Chief Retired General Qamar Bajwa had intervened to stop the use of EVMs in the February 8 elections as their use made the ‘Form 47’ government impossible. He claimed that the House Community’s agenda on human rights had been changed under the influence of some powerful foreigners, and the National Assembly staff said they were under compulsion.
Omar Ayub said that the judges of the Islamabad High Court had also written letters about the intervention of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs. He lodged a strong protest with the chair for repeatedly refusing to speak in the House against the tradition of Parliament.
He regretted that the political opponents were underway to suffer the worst, adding that Punjab Police had raided the house of PTIMNA Anifa Bhatti, arrested his brother. And his family’s land is still surrounded by the police team.
He said that Punjab Police had also raided the houses of PTIMNA, which included Ahmed Chatta, Mobin Jat and Osama Mela, and families were broken and destroyed. “But the same police cannot face robbers in Katchi population areas.”
The opposition leader also alleged that PTI founder Imran and his wife Bashara Babi had been sentenced in fake cases.
Mr Ayub said that in the current situation, no dialogue with the government was possible. He said that the IMF delegation, who is currently in Pakistan, also wanted to know whether the rule of law was in the country. He also subjected the government’s claims to reduce inflation, saying that the rulers would face the wrath of this Republic to hurt their lives.
Increase in salary
A few days after members of the National Assembly received their better salaries, the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday approved the salaries and allowances (amendment) bill 2025 with a majority vote.
On January 26, the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, headed by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, has approved the increase in the salaries of members of the Lower House, which has been increased from Rs 218,000 to Rs 519,000.
With a slight amendment on Tuesday, the bill seeks to empower the finance committees of both the Houses of Parliament to determine the salaries of parliamentarians.
The bill was presented by Romina Khurshid Alam, and Law Minister Nazir Tarar did not oppose the proposed legislation. The bill had already been passed by the Senate, but with the amendment, it will now return to the Senate for approval.
Despite their political hostility, members of both Treasury and the opposition benches showed an extraordinary unity on the issue of salaries and other facilities during the recent meeting of the NA’s Finance Committee.
Dawn, appeared on February 12, 2025
