SWAT: The opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement activists took out rallies in different towns on Saturday against price hike.

Despite ban on rallies and protests under Section 144 in Swat, scores of political activists from different parts of the district staged rallies and gathered at the Nishat Chowk in Mingora, chanting slogans against the constantly increasing prices of daily use commodities and petroleum products.

Addressing the rally, PML-N Swat president Qaimos Khan, MPA Sardar Khan, Maulana Hujjatullah of JUI-F, Dr Khalid Mahmood of PkMAP and Razaullah Khan Advocate of QWP said inflation had broken all previous records, stressing people out.

They said every sector of the economy was on verge of collapse, and people were committing suicides. They said the ‘incompetent’ rulers did not know how to run the country.

In Bannu city, the local chapter of Pakistan Peoples Party held a protest demonstration against inflation and lawlessness.

Led by district president Shakil Khan Advocate, the PPP workers marched through different bazaars and gathered near the Pareti Chowk.

PPP general secretary Taj Mohammad Khan Advocate, senior vice-president Malik Idrees Khan, vice-president Malik Janabeel Khan and Peoples Lawyers Forum president Imran Ali Shah also participated.

The PPP leaders blasted the government for unbearable price hike and lawlessness in the country. They said the incompetent rulers had destroyed all institutions of the country.

The IMF-dictated economic policies have resulted into a surge in prices of essential commodities, forcing people to commit suicide as they could not afford buying food items, they maintained.

In Shangla, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl workers blocked the Karakoram Highway in Bisham Chowk to protest the price hike.

The protest call was given by JUI-F central leadership.

The protesters were led by JUI-F Shangla emir Qari Zainullah, Imad Ahmad Khan and Maulana Faheem Khan.

Rallies were also taken out in the Bisham Bazaar, Maira, Shang and other parts of the district, where the JUI-F workers chanted slogans against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In Bajaur, the JUI-F activists held a protest rally against the uncontrolled price hike and joblessness, and called upon Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down.

Scores of party activists, students of seminaries and traders participated in the rally held in the main Khar Bazaar.

The demonstrators condemned the unbearable hike in prices of petroleum products and essential food items.

JUI-F provincial leader and former Senator Maulana Rahat Husssain, district chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed, general secretary Maulana Mohammad Laiaq and others spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021