KARACHI, Feb 8: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, criticizing the unprecedented price hike, said the anti-people economic policies of the government had crash opened the floodgates of inflation, poverty and joblessness in the country.

The MMA Sindh’s President, MNA Asadullah Bhutto, was addressing a specially summoned meeting at the Quba Auditorium on Wednesday to review the situation of price hike with special reference to the soaring sugar and fuel prices.

He said the unending hike in the rates of daily-use commodities was a slap on the face of economic policymakers.

He said the masses were already badly burdened with inflation, price hike and ever-raising poverty and the recent unprecedented rise in the sugar prices had made their lives even worse. He accused the rulers of snatching even the last morsel of food from the mouth of the poor masses.

The MMA leader said that before raising sugar prices, the rates of wheat flour were also raised to maximize the profits of capitalists. He said the jump of sugar price from Rs20 to Rs45 per kilogram was a conspiracy against the masses, by which the rulers had ensured sugar tycoons and traders a windfall profit.

He said that the economic policies of the present regime were aimed at burying the poor masses alive.

He said besides sugar and wheat flour, the prices of other eatables including that of rice, ghee, milk, meat, vegetables and lentils were also on the increase. He said there was no check on the ever-rising fuel price, which was the source of this whole mess.

Asadullah alleged the rulers were playing the role of ‘recovery officer’ of the IMF and the World Bank.

He said that the rulers instead of providing peace, security and jobs to the people were deliberately fanning controversial subjects to divert attention from real issues faced by the nation.

In this regard, he quoted matters of controversial water reservoirs and Hudood Ordinance. He charged that the government was working on the divide and rule formula to hoodwink the masses.

He asserted that the NFC Award was an example of injustice with the smaller provinces.

He said the Opposition was pushed against the wall. He warned that this dictatorial policy would cast negative impacts on the country and the nation.

He claimed that polarization was on the rise in the country and steps like the Wana and Balochistan operations were strengthening anti-federation forces. He alleged that the rulers had put the country’s sovereignty at stake just to prolong their rule.

He strongly criticized the American attack on Bajaur, and the recent inflammatory statements of Indian politicians against the Two-Nation Theory.

He said the US agencies had been given a free hand to pick any Pakistani from any place in the country.

He said the sovereignty of Pakistan had now become a big question mark, and the real face of the Bush-Musharraf friendship had now totally been unveiled.

He said it was the need of the hour that the masses should now bravely rise against this system of injustice and oppression.

Separately, the JI Sindh’s General Secretary, Rashid Naseem, on Wednesday said the publication of blasphemous cartoons had further increased the responsibilities of the Muslims.

Addressing a convention of the JI’s women wing, District Central, at the Quba Auditorium, he said it was the blatant hypocrisy of those who used to give us lectures and sermons on humanity, tolerance and human rights. This should now open the eyes of Pakistanis and the whole Muslim world, he said.

He advised the rulers of Muslim countries to review their policies and take steps in the interest of their own people instead of serving foreign forces.—PPI