I UNDERSTAND that our lawmakers are handsomely paid for their labours in serving the nation. However, they are mostly either big and rich landlords or industrialists, some of them having billions of rupees in their bank accounts and in local investments, besides having millions of dollars of investments in offshore companies.

They have no moral justification for getting paid from government coffers for the services rendered as lawmakers.

I would appeal to them to surrender their salaries and perks. Howeve, an exception can be made in case of those from the middle class who have no income other than from their meagre salary in private service or their petty business.

They cannot maintain themselves with dignity and honour commensurate with their status as lawmakers. Even then their financial status must be scrutinised.

It is indeed ludicrous that salaries and perl(s should be paid to billionaires for renderingservices tothe nation.

Justice (r) Salahuddin Mirza Karachi (2) INSTEAD of discussing legitimate issues, our politicans want a mammoth increase in their salaries and perks. I was shocked to know they have demanded huge amounts of money for their salaries and perks.

This demand has come at a time when the country`s 25m school-age children are out of school and about 29pc of its government primary schools are operating with just a single teacher, 18pc have only one classroom, and 9pc do not even have a building.

When such huge amounts are given to our politicians, how can we resolve serious and basic issues likec unemployment, poverty, healthfacilities,education,etc.

Now this proposal by our parlimantarians should be smacked down, and the money be spent on the poor Fakhar-i-Haider Mandi Bahauddin