National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has stepped away from the controversy surrounding the recent salary hike for top parliamentary officials, stating that the matter should be decided by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a letter addressed to the premier, Sadiq expressed no interest in the pay raise and made it clear that he is not involved in the process.
The move came after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif harshly criticised the salary hike, calling it “financial obscenity” in light of the public’s ongoing economic struggles. He urged lawmakers to consider the hardships faced by ordinary citizens before accepting such privileges.
Ayaz Sadiq stated in his letter, “No matter if my salary is not increased. I have nothing to do with the issue.” He also refused to accept the revised salary package and left the final decision in the hands of the federal government. He added that neither his office nor the National Assembly Secretariat was involved in proposing the hike.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the National Assembly Secretariat clarified that the summary for the speaker’s salary raise was prepared by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and approved by the federal cabinet. The notification was then issued by the same ministry, not by the speaker or his office.
Despite facing criticism, especially from Khawaja Asif who also condemned the salary increase for the Senate chairman, Sadiq chose not to publicly respond. His decision to defer to the prime minister is being seen as an effort to avoid further political friction within the ruling coalition.
As public anger over political perks continues to grow, this controversy has highlighted the need for transparency and sensitivity in policymaking—especially when millions across the country face rising inflation and economic pressure.