Another person-specific law

It has been several months since the despatch of a draft bill for approval to the President that is tailored to benefit the incumbent Prime Minister. So far the President has rightly chosen to ignore it.
According to details, the bill titled "Prime Minister's Pension, Benefits and Privileges" proposes benefits for the post-October 2002 prime ministers, excluding anyone with less than a year-long stint, like Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and those who have not been removed for "violating the Constitution or gross misconduct." It is more than obvious to anyone with a little bit of common sense that the bill is person-specific - except for Zafarullah Jamali who gets included by default.
The other, two-time each, former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif are effectively ousted from its purview. Yet in his inimitable way, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, has denied the truth about the draft bill.
"The issue," he told a section of the press, "should not be scandalised at all as it was not a person-specific law and anyone who could spend one year as prime minister would be eligible to get these privileges." He went on to say that the practice was prevalent in other countries as well, especially in our neighbouring India, which also gave a place of honour to former prime ministers at important public functions.
It would be nice to see the same happening in this country too. However, by the same token, there is no need for the October 2002 cut-off date, and all former incumbents of the prime ministerial office should get special benefits and privileges, though the ones contained in the bill are rather excessive.
These proposed benefits a long list of as many as 23 items, and include life-long pension at the rate of 80 percent of the last salary; free medical aid for life in Pakistan and abroad - subject to approval by a medical board - for self, wife and dependant children; free phone, electricity gas and water; purchase of a duty and sales tax free car and more. Former prime ministers' widows would also be entitled to various benefits and privileges.
Further requirements include diplomatic passport for self, wife and dependant children, and access to various government rest houses, circuit houses, and guest houses - of course, again, free of charge. Almost all comforts are to be offered free of cost. Which looks a bit ironical considering that much has been made of the present Prime Minister's refusal to draw his salary.
It looks particularly bad in view of the fact that well over 30 percent of this country's population lives below the poverty line, and many more do not have access to such a basic necessity of life as clean drinking water. It is true that former leaders in other countries continue to get a number of perks and privileges, but these are commensurate with their respective national resources.
One wishes for the day when our political system will attain maturity and all the former prime ministers and presidents would be able to sit under one roof at important state functions marking national occasions and enjoy privileges and benefits to lead a dignified life, as in established democracies.
The present bill would, however, be acceptable if it is reviewed in the light of this country's general standard of living and is equally applicable to all the living former prime ministers. Parliament having almost completed its life, the matter is now in the hands of the President who could give his approval to the bill in the form of an ordinance. He would be best advised to leave it to the next assembly to do the needful.