NA Speaker Says Government Free to Reverse Increase
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Friday denied any involvement in the substantial increase in salaries of the heads of the upper and lower houses of parliament, asserting that the government is fully empowered to reverse the decision if it so chooses.
Responding during the budget session to criticism from Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, who accused the government of hypocrisy for preaching austerity while engaging in “financial obscenity,” Sadiq clarified that neither he nor the finance committees approved the controversial raise.
The term “financial obscenity” was originally used by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to criticize the reported 500% increase in the salaries of the NA speaker and deputy speaker, as well as the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
Reports had earlier claimed that Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, a PPP leader, had chaired a House Finance Committee meeting where the pay raise for himself and Deputy Chairman Sardar Syedaal Khan Nasar of the PML-N was approved. Similar allegations were made against Sadiq, accusing him of presiding over a NA Finance Committee meeting that quietly authorized salary hikes for himself and Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah of the PPP.
Dismissing these reports, Sadiq reiterated, “Those who approved our salary increases can also revoke them. The government has the authority to reverse any increment.”
Senate Chairman Gilani also distanced himself from the decision, reportedly stating on Friday that he was not consulted prior to the approval of the pay hikes.
According to a notification dated May 29, the salaries of the NA speaker and Senate chairman were increased from Rs205,000 to Rs1.3 million, along with a sumptuary allowance amounting to 50% of the revised salary (Rs650,000). The increase is set to take effect from January 2025.
