Khawaja Asif Criticizes Increase in Parliamentarians’ Salaries

Khawaja Asif, a prominent leader within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has voiced strong disapproval of the substantial increase in the salaries and perks afforded to parliamentary officeholders. He characterized this move as a “financial obscenity” on Wednesday.

The defense minister took to X, stating that the significant increase in financial benefits for the National Assembly speaker, deputy speaker, Senate chairperson, and deputy chairperson constitutes a financial impropriety. He urged consideration for the common citizen, stating that their honor and dignity are owed to them.

Reports indicate that the government has sanctioned a more than fivefold increase in the salary for both the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairperson, elevating it to Rs1.3 million monthly. Furthermore, these officials are expected to receive a discretionary allowance equivalent to half of their revised salary, amounting to Rs 650,000.

Asif’s statement on X elicited a mix of commendation and satirical responses. While some applauded the PML-N leader’s forthright opposition to the government’s decision, others dismissed it as a mere gesture, given his position as a senior figure within the ruling coalition.

Social media users also pointed out that the budget unveiled by the PML-N government failed to include any increase in the minimum wage, criticizing the government’s perceived reluctance to provide meaningful relief to the general population.

Conversely, sources familiar with the matter have indicated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken cognizance of the salary increases for the Senate chairman, deputy chairman, National Assembly speaker, and deputy speaker.

These sources added that, in response to the widespread social media backlash against the substantial raise, the prime minister has requested a report from both the NA speaker and the Senate chairman.

Notably, the federal cabinet had previously approved this salary augmentation.

Following the government’s announcement of the federal budget, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb defended the salary adjustments for parliamentarians, ministers, and the custodians of the National Assembly and Senate.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Aurangzeb stated that the last salary increase for cabinet ministers occurred in 2016, justifying the recent adjustments.