ISLAMABAD – A successful candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided not to withdraw his salary and other cash allowances a member of parliament is entitled to.
Barrister Muhammad Hammad Azhar won election from National Assembly constituency NA-126 Lahore by securing 105,434 votes. According to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Mehar Ishtiaq of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) stood second by securing 102,667 votes.
Voter turnout was recorded at 58.19%.
“As a member of parliament I will not take any salary or cash allowance,” Hammad wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “I will strive to follow the guidance of simplicity given by my leader Imran Khan,” he vowed.
https://twitter.com/Hammad_Azhar/status/1023482032557633542
The announcement by the MNA-elect from Lahore has widely been acclaimed by party workers and leadership alike.
His voters and PTI supporters lauded him for this “great step”, urging other lawmakers to follow his suit.
Amazing and huge respect
— Sardar Shahid Rehan (@SShahidrehan) July 29, 2018
Wow! Massive respect if you actually implement it.
— aizaamin (@aizaamin03) July 29, 2018
Thats more like it. Proud to have voted for you and @ImranKhanPTI. I hope @PTIofficial realizes the hopes people have attached to them. Don’t disappoint us.
— محمد علی چوہدری (@chaudhrysaahb) July 29, 2018
Many pleaded the PTI leader to withdraw the salary and use it on the poorest from his constituency, while a few suggested to contribute to the Diamer-Basha and Mohmand Dams Fund.
Withdraw salary but open an account for ur halka and help poor every month in that area….. tax payer money on tax payers.
— Insafian By Soul (@Insafianbyheart) July 29, 2018
ہر ماہ اپنی سیلری ڈیم کے لیے وقف کر دیں
— Malik (@Malik41932976) July 29, 2018
I suggest all parliamentarians to create a joint account , where all of salaries will be deposited . The money can then be used in developmental work .
And alongwith that , it would be great if all PTI members refuse to take any VIP protocols awarded by government.— Not_So_Savage (@mehtab_h) July 29, 2018
PTI to constitute Austerity Committee
Meanwhile, the PTI has also decided to form an Austerity Committee that would suggest ways and means to reduce the government related non-development expenditure of the incoming prime minister and cabinet members.
In his victory speech on July 26, Imran had said that his party would introduce austerity as one the basic pillar of PTI governance model.
Pledging to protect the public money, the party chairman said the PTI government “will introduce austerity at all levels”.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/imran-khan-to-address-the-nation-at-2pm-tomorrow-naeemul-haque/
“I will feel ashamed even if I think of living in a luxurious mansion called the PM House in a country where half of the population lives in abject poverty,” he added.
Imran announced that state facilities such as the PM House and governor houses would be converted into public facilities.
“We will choose a place somewhere in Minister’s Enclave for the residence of the PM,” Imran told reporters. All state guest houses at hill stations will be opened for the public to generate funds, he added.
“I promise that the PTI government will change the culture of using public money to maintain lavish lifestyles by the ruling elite. No one but us, the people, will steer Pakistan out of financial crisis,” he said.
Imran went on to say that citizens would start paying taxes once they learn that their money would be spent on their welfare. “I will simplify my own lifestyle. I will remain just as I am even after assuming power.”
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/imran-khan-to-address-the-nation-at-2pm-tomorrow-naeemul-haque/
PTI is currently in talks with various political parties for support to form the government in the Centre and Punjab.
According to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday, Imran Khan’s party has emerged victorious in Wednesday’s polls by winning 116 of the 270 National Assembly seats. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have bagged 64 and 43 seats respectively.
At least 12,570 candidates contested for 577 provincial and 272 national assemblies in Wednesday’s polls. Other than the independent candidates, there are as many as 106 political parties whose candidates faced off others in their respective constituencies.
