SWABI: Protest demonstrations were held in various cities on Saturday against wheat flour crisis and high inflation.

Jamaat-i-Islami workers demonstrated at Shewa Adda Chowk in Razaar tehsil against inflation, extortion and robbery incidents, electricity loadshedding and closure of CNG stations.

Addressing the protesters, JI leaders Mian Iftikhar Bacha, Mehmoodul Hasan, Mufti Naeem Haqqani and Imaduddin said both PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the centre were responsible for the people’s misery.

They said leaders of political parties were blaming each other for the country’s difficult situation, but did not take steps for people’s welfare. They demanded protection to people against rising inflation and lawlessness and end to power outages. They also sought action against the traders hoarding wheat flour.

Meanwhile, PTI workers staged a protest at Karnal Sher Khan Chowk against high inflation.

Residents of Jalbai village also demonstrated against flour crisis and inflation.

In Bajaur, PTI workers held a rally against price hike.

A large number of party workers and local residents attended the rally held in Khar Bazaar.

The protesters led by PTI MNA Gul Dad Khan and his brother MPA Ajmal Khan raised slogans against the federal government for failure to control price hike.

They said on one hand people were squeezed by high inflation, but on the other, the prime minister, his cabinet members and other leaders of PDM had clipped NAB powers to proceed against them in corruption cases.

In Lower Dir, JUI-F, PTI and JI held separate demonstrations against wheat flour shortage.

JUI-F workers led by district chief Sirajuddin marched from Shaheed Chowk to Gorgorai Chowk, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

Speaking on this occasion, Sirajuddin, Timergara tehsil chairman Mufti Irfanuddin and others accused the KP government of creating an artificial shortage of wheat flour.

Also in the day, hundreds of PTI workers led by party MNAs and MPAs staged a rally at Gorgorai Chowk against inflation.

The protesters chanted slogans against the federal government.

Special assistant to chief minister on prisons MPA Shafiullah, MNA Syed Maboob Shah and Balambat tehsil chairman Asim Shoaib said the federal government was bound to ensure provision of essential food items to citizens. Jamaat-i-Islami also held rallies in Munda, Samarbagh, Mayar and other parts of the district against price hike, unemployment and flour shortage.

In Mardan, ANP workers took to the streets against skyrocketing prices of essential food items.

The protesters were led the party’s district president Imran Madoori and city mayor Himayatullah Mayar Advocate.

The ANP workers marched from Kalpani Pul to Pakistan Chowk after passing through various bazaars.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the government’s failure to ensure availability of wheat flour to citizens.

Addressing the protesters, Imran Mandoori and Himayatullah Mayar held the PTI provincial government responsible for skyrocketing prices and law and order situation.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2023