KARACHI, March 23: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Friday condemned the rise in prices of ghee and demanded that the anti-people price hike be taken back immediately. In a statement issued here, MMA parliamentarians Nasrullah Shaji, Hameedullah Khan and Yunus Barai said that the price of 16 kilogramme tin of ghee has been increased by Rs50 -- from Rs1,050 to Rs1,100 -- whereas the price of a 5 kilogramme tin has been raised by Rs6 per kilogramme.

They said that only a few weeks ago the prices of ghee and oil had been increased and that the masses had not been able to absorb that price hike. Yet once again the prices had been raised.

The parliamentarians said that the government was intentionally enhancing the prices of essential commodities so that people remained tied up in making both ends meet and forgot about the real issues being faced by the nation. They demanded that the ghee price rise be taken back immediately.

Dug up roads: Former nazims of Al Khidmat group condemned the city government for digging up roads without providing alternate routes. They demanded that either alternate routes be provided or the roads be constructed immediately so that people did not suffer.

They said that during Rabi-ul-Awwal, various processions are taken out and numerous religious meetings are held, so the city government should either have completed the work on sewerage lines and roads before the holy month started, or work should have been initiated after the month had passed.