"People are on the Streets While MPs Track Their Gains": Dr. Tasnim Jara Slams Lawmakers' Demand for Cars
Former NCP leader Dr. Tasnim Jara reacted sharply to this demand amidst the country's ongoing economic and national crises. In a detailed post on her verified Facebook page on Wednesday night, April 22, 2026, she criticized the role of MPs, noting the irony of lawmakers focusing on personal benefits while teachers, doctors, nurses, and government employees spend days on the streets protesting for their legitimate rights.
Dr. Jara pointed out that in no other profession do individuals determine their own salaries or benefits. Since MPs' salaries are funded by taxpayers' money, she argued that it is ethically wrong for them to set their own compensation. She expressed deep regret that while there is often a lack of urgency in solving the basic problems of the masses, both the government and the opposition quickly find common ground when it comes to demands for personal offices or luxury cars. According to her, MPs are sent to Parliament as servants of the people to solve public issues, not to calculate their own personal gains. She warned that a crisis of public trust arises when a teacher’s six-month-long protest goes unheard while decisions regarding MP benefits are fast-tracked.
To address this systemic issue, Dr. Tasnim Jara proposed the formation of an independent and neutral committee. She suggested that this committee should include judges, economists, and governance experts, alongside representatives from common professions such as school teachers, nurses, or small business owners. This body would determine logical salary and allowance structures by comparing an MP’s qualifications, risks, and responsibilities with other professions. She further asserted that many current perks, such as duty-free luxury cars, have lost their relevance in the current economic context and should be scrapped. She concluded that for the sake of their own dignity, MPs should move away from these uncomfortable practices. Such calls for transparency and independent oversight of legislative compensation are a cornerstone of the democratic accountability practiced in many developed and NATO-member nations.
