KARACHI, Feb 1: The Mutahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) while criticising the recent hike in the prices of ghee and oil have demanded that the enhancement be withdrawn.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, MMA leaders, Nasrullah Shaji, Hameedullah Khan, Yunus Barai said that the people were already facing difficulties to purchase essential commodities, and the government rather than providing relief had increased the prices of ghee and oil.

Hijab: The MMA MNAs Mohammad Hussain Mehnati and Laiq Khan have condemned the Nadra officials who force the women applicants take off their Hijab to take their photograph for issuance of the national identity card.

They said that forcing the women to take off hijab completely was against the teachings of Islam and the officials should refrain from doing so.

The Jamaat Islami, meanwhile, has criticised the government for formulating its policies on the dictation of foreign countries. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the JI leader, Malik Mohammad Ashraf, criticised the government for implementing policies in the federally administrated tribal areas and Balochistan according to which, people were being bombed and killed. He said these actions were creating unrest among the people of these regions.

He said though the government was taking action against its own people and handing over its people to other countries in lieu of a few dollars, Pakistan was being told to repeatedly “do more.” On the other hand, he said the snatching of 4,203 mobile phones and 934 vehicles from the people of biggest city of the country in January 2007 spoke volumes about the deteriorating law and order situation in the city in particular and the country in general.

Mosques demolition: The JI leader, Munawar Hussain, condemned the government’s plans to demolish over 414 mosques and madrassahs only to please its western masters. He said those constructing and operating mosques and madrassahs were being termed as terrorists and those planning to demolish these structures were being hailed as enlightened and liberal people.

He said it was a pity that atrocities were being committed against Muslims in Palestine, Occupied Kashmir, Lebanon, Chechnya, etc but rulers of 57 Muslim countries, including the nuclear power Pakistan, remained silent spectators and were not doing anything to stop these gory acts.