ISLAMABAD, June 16: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz secretary general and MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq has criticized recent increase in the prices of petroleum products only three days after the passage of federal budget 2003-4.

In a statement here on Monday, he termed the move as “mini- budget”. He said the nation had started getting fruits of “the so-called tax-free budget”.

The PML-N leader said the rulers were constantly fooling the nation by presenting manipulated figures.

He also criticized the Punjab government for increasing water tariff.

He said the government wanted that the people should remain in economic crisis so that they could not question the “rulers’ misdeeds”. He said the government had been claiming an increase in foreign exchange reserves and that the economy had reached take-off position, but the nation was not getting benefit of this so-called “improved economy” as poverty and unemployment were constantly increasing.

Mr Rafique predicted early fall of the government due to price-hike, increased unemployment and poor law and order situation in the country. He said the poor nation was ready to snatch its rights.

He said the days of dictators were numbered. He was of the view that present political crisis could not be overcome without presenting Legal Framework Order before the parliament.