PML opposes job quotas for lawmakers

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: The proposed job quota for parliamentarians will mar merit and also harm national progress, said Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, vice president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.

“This is dangerous as it will defeat merit and encourage corruption,” said Wasti in a press statement on Tuesday. He said job quotas and development funds for the elected representatives led to the failure of governments in the 1990s and added that the system would also not help the current regime.

Mr Wasti said job quotas and development funds increased hatred because it deprived the deserving people of their due rights and development. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had “taken a good but half-hearted step” to cut development funds for parliamentarians by half, adding that he should have abolished the scheme.

Mr Wasti criticised the bill linking lawmakers’ salaries and allowances to government employees. He said the purpose of this law was to take advantage of the proposed increase in salaries of government employees in the coming budget.He said currently a parliamentarian cost Rs 130,000 and 150,000 per month to the state.

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