PESHAWAR: Opposition political parties and traders on Thursday criticised the federal government for yet another significant increase in the prices of petroleum products and demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.
In Peshawar, Jamaat-i-Islami workers and members of various traders’ organisations took out a joint protest procession in the city and held a rally at Qissa Khwani Bazaar against the hike in fuel prices. They also blocked the main Qissa Khwani Road for some time.
Speaking on the occasion, JI youth wing provincial president Mohammad Siddiq Paracha, Pakistan Business Forum president Khalid Gul Mohmand, Frontier Printers and Publishers Association provincial president Mushtaq Ahmad Khalil described the increase in prices of petroleum products as a sheer injustice with the people.
The people chanted slogans against the government for raising the price of petrol by Rs12.3 per litre and said inflation had already made life miserable for the poor and the recent increase would trigger unprecedented increase in prices of essentially commodities.
Ask govt for immediate withdrawal of decision
They said the federal government was toeing the line of IMF instead of adopting its own economic policy. In the prevailing situation, they said, people had been left with the only option to commit suicides.
The protesters warned of launching a movement against the government if the fuel price increase was not withdrawn immediately.
Qaumi Watan Party provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Sherpao in his address to party workers in Peshawar on Thursday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government for raising the fuel prices and said the rulers were least bothered about difficulties of the people.
“This government has increased the POL prices by Rs75 per litre in the last three years,” he said.
He said with the increase in oil prices, the rates of essentially commodities would go up in view of the increased transportation charges.
Pakistan Peoples Party women wing provincial president Senator Rubina Khalid and PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam in their separate statements here on Thursday also expressed their anger over the increase in prices of petroleum products and asked the government to review the decision.
They said that sharp increase in transportation charges would directly affect the prices of daily use commodities.
They asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to control inflation or step down without wasting time.
In Swabi, JI activists staged a demonstration and sit-in againstthe government for increasing the prices of petroleum products.
The JI workers led by its former district chief Saeed Zada gathered in the Topi tehsil general bus stand and marched from there to the main bazaar while chanting slogans against the government.
They staged a sit-in the main bazaar, demanding the government to withdraw the oil price increase or tender resignation for its failure to work for welfare of the masses.
In Bajaur, scores of JI workers, traders and other people participated in the protest demonstration held at Khar Bazaar in Khar town.
Holding party flags and banners inscribed with anti-government slogans, the participants slammed the rulers for the big increase in the prices of petroleum products.
JI deputy district chief Qari Abdul Majeed and others addressed the protesters and criticised the government for uncontrolled inflation in the country. They said the recent oil price hike belied the government’s claims of making the country an Islamic welfare state.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2022
