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Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Lawmakers award themselves hefty pay, perks increase
The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed three pieces of legislation, including a bill increasing the salaries and privileges of its members, the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Anti-Terrorism Sindh (Amendment) Bill 2025. The bills were moved by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ziaul Hassan Lanjar during a session chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah. The House unanimously approved the salary and allowances bill, which was earlier cleared by the provincial cabinet on August 7. The new law equalises privileges for MPAs — both from government and opposition — covering hospitality, house rent, utilities, daily and conveyance allowances, accommodation, travel and mileage, telephone and medical facilities, as well as office maintenance. The leader of the opposition will now receive the same salary and perks as a provincial minister. Parliamentary committee chairpersons will be entitled to use an official vehicle — with fuel and maintenance — but must return it within three days of vacating the post. The Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, passed by a majority vote, allows the appointment of BPS-20 and 21 officers as chairpersons of education boards. Lanjar said the move aimed to induct competent officers for better board performance. MQM-Pakistan's Sabir Qaimkhani, however, called for sending the bill to the relevant committee for further deliberation to safeguard board autonomy - a suggestion that was rejected by the House. The assembly also adopted the Anti-Terrorism Sindh (Amendment) Bill 2025. Details of the changes were not immediately debated on the floor. Speaker Shah announced that a special sitting will be held on August 11 at the old assembly building to mark Minority Day, with representatives of minority communities invited to participate. A privilege motion by MQM-Pakistan's Ammar Siddiqui on gas supply issues was rejected on technical grounds. During the question hour for the Auqaf Department, Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Sanghar replied to written and supplementary questions from members.
Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Sindh PA passes bill to raise members' salaries
KARACHI: In a rare moment of unanimous consensus, Sindh Assembly lawmakers on Friday passed a bill to significantly raise their own salaries and entitlements, sparking eyebrows over the timing and priorities of the House. The legislature also voted on two other key bills in its proceedings. The three bills passed during the session included the Sindh Lawmakers' Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2025. All three bills were tabled by Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar, during a session chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah. The most talked-about among them was undoubtedly the bill granting lawmakers enhanced financial privileges. Introduced and approved clause by clause, the bill received unanimous backing from both treasury and opposition benches, passing without objection. The Sindh Cabinet had earlier green lit the draft during its meeting on August 7. With the Assembly's stamp now secured, lawmakers from both government and opposition will enjoy a slew of new benefits. These included hospitality allowance, house rent, utility allowance, daily allowance, conveyance and accommodation allowance, travel and mileage allowance, free travel facility, telephone privileges, medical treatment coverage, office maintenance allowance, and any future perks recommended by a parliamentary committee. The newly passed legislation also upgrades the status of the Leader of the Opposition, who will now receive a salary and perks equal to those of a provincial minister. Additionally, chairpersons of various parliamentary committees will now be eligible for numerous allowances. However, they will be entitled to only one official vehicle during their tenure—though fuel and maintenance costs will be covered. Upon vacating the position, they must return the vehicle within three days. Separately, the Assembly also passed—by majority vote — the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025. Explaining its purpose, Lanjar said the amendment aims to update the original 1972 ordinance, which previously tied the chairman's post to officers in grades 20 or 21. Under the new law, officers from both grades can now be appointed, supposedly to improve the functioning of educational boards by attracting competent officers. MQM's legislator, Sabir Kaim khani welcomed efforts to improve the boards' performance but criticized the government for sidelining the opposition's input during committee deliberations. He called for the bill to be sent back for further debate—an idea rejected by the minister. The Speaker proceeded with a voice vote, and the bill was passed by majority. Also approved during the session was the Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2025. Meanwhile, Speaker Awais Qadir Shah announced that a special Assembly session will be held at the Old Assembly Building on Monday, August 11, to observe Minority Day. Members of religious minority communities will be invited to attend and speak. A privilege motion moved by MQM's Aamir Siddiqui regarding gas supply issues in his constituency was dismissed on technical grounds. During the session, the Assembly also held a question hour pertaining to the Auqaf Department with Parliamentary Secretary, Shazia Umar responding to both written and supplementary queries raised by members. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sindh MPAs award themselves hefty pay, perks increase
Listen to article The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed three pieces of legislation, including a bill increasing the salaries and privileges of its members, the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Anti-Terrorism Sindh (Amendment) Bill 2025. The bills were moved by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ziaul Hassan Lanjar during a session chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah. The House unanimously approved the salary and allowances bill, which was earlier cleared by the provincial cabinet on Thursday. The new law equalises privileges for MPAs – both from government and opposition – covering hospitality, house rent, utilities, daily and conveyance allowances, accommodation, travel and mileage, telephone and medical facilities, as well as office maintenance. The leader of the opposition will now receive the same salary and perks as a provincial minister. Parliamentary committee chairpersons will be entitled to use an official vehicle — with fuel and maintenance — but must return it within three days of vacating the post. The Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, passed by a majority vote, allows the appointment of BPS-20 and 21 officers as chairpersons of education boards. Lanjar said the move aimed to induct competent officers for better board performance. MQM-Pakistan's Sabir Qaimkhani, however, called for sending the bill to the relevant committee for further deliberation to safeguard board autonomy — a suggestion that was rejected by the House. The assembly also adopted the Anti-Terrorism Sindh (Amendment) Bill 2025. Details of the changes were not immediately debated on the floor. Speaker Shah announced that a special sitting will be held on August 11 at the old assembly building to mark Minority Day, with representatives of minority communities invited to participate. A privilege motion by MQM-Pakistan's Ammar Siddiqui on gas supply issues was rejected on technical grounds. During the question hour for the Auqaf Department, Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Sanghar replied to written and supplementary questions from members.
Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Acting governor be given full access to Governor's House: SHC
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Principal Secretary of the Governor of Sindh to grant full access to the Acting Governor, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, to all official rooms, offices, and chambers within the Governor House. In a constitutional petition, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, who is also the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, pleaded that despite Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori being abroad, and as per Article 104 of the Constitution, which mandates the Speaker to perform the Governor's functions, he was being denied access to the Governor House and its associated offices. The petitioner's counsels, Barrister Azain Memon and Zubair Ali Butt, argued that the Principal Secretary had repeatedly refused the petitioner and his staff access to the Governor House, despite formal requests; this denial hindered the Acting Governor's ability to perform his official duties. The court was informed that the denial of access was not an isolated incident but had occurred multiple times, including on the day of the hearing. The petitioner sought immediate and unobstructed access to the Governor House and its resources to discharge his duties as Acting Governor. The Advocate General Sindh, Jawad Dero, stated that the Acting Governor was legally entitled to use the Governor House for official business. The court, after interpreting Article 104, concluded that the petitioner could not be denied access to the Governor House to carry out his official duties. The court directed the Principal Secretary to provide immediate access to the Acting Governor to all rooms, offices, and chambers in the Governor House, except the residential portion, to enable him to perform his official duties. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
