MARDAN: Workers of Pakistan Peoples Party here on Saturday held a protest rally against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and asked it to bring down prices of essential commodities to provide relief to the people.

The rally was led by PPP central leader Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti. He was accompanied by PPP district president Aurangzib Khan and other party activists and residents of the area.

The rally started from Hoti House and it turned into a protest demonstration at Pakistan Chowk after passing through Khwaja Ganj Bazaar, Bazaar-i-Shaheedan, Jaj Bazaar and Mir Afzal Bazaar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hoti alleged that by cabinet reshuffle Prime Minister Imran Khan had tried to hide his own failure to deliver according to aspirations of the people.

“With the reshuffle and removal of ministers, the country’s economy cannot be improved,” he said, adding that the PTI-led coalition government lacked a competent team to run the country’s affairs.

He alleged that the government had adopted anti-poor policies instead of taking practical steps for poverty alleviation. He said that they did not need “Naya Pakistan” of PTI.

In old Pakistan, Mr Hoti said, roti (bread) was cheap, one dollar was equal to Rs80 and one litre of petrol was avaialbel at Rs60, but the incumbent government had increased the prices manifold in its “Naya Pakistan” creating problems for the poor people.

He claimed that the PTI government had broken all records of taking huge foreign loans, putting financial burden on the people of Pakistan.

The PPP leader threatened to expand their protests to other parts of the country if the government did not reduce prices of daily use commodities and give relief to the people. The PPP district president and elders of the area also spoke on this occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2019