PESHAWAR, March 9: A former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) provincial president, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, has urged the government to take effective measures against growing price-hike, unemployment and lawlessness in the country.

Speaking at a seminar on the law and order situation, crime, and declining purchasing power of the people, Mr Hoti said there was no option with the masses but to bring about a political change in the country to get rid of worsening socio-economic conditions.

He said it was a government by elites who had nothing to

do with the problems of the people.

The seminar was organised by his own pressure group here at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday. Mr Hoti parted ways with the mainstream PPP after the defeat of a PPP-nominee Sardar Ali Khan in 2002 Senate poll.

He alleged that political parties were being run like fiefdoms and the party heads were alien to democratic norms and traditions.

Holding the ‘intolerant’ politicians responsible for the present state of affairs, he said: “Major political parties do not hold party elections. Under such circumstances, how can they expect free, fair and transparent elections in the country?”

Referring to the government’s claim of economic turnaround, Mr Hoti said Gen Pervez Musharraf’s policies might have attracted 12 billion dollars to national reserves but that would have not brought about any change in the life of general public. Despite the economic growth, over 40 per cent of the population is still living below the poverty line, he added.

The PPP leader condemned the European nations for encouraging publication of sacrilegious material in the name of freedom of press. He urged people to be peaceful while protesting against blasphemous cartoons.

Mr Hoti criticised Wapda, PTCL and gas companies for allegedly issuing inflated bills to consumers.

Earlier, the party supporters carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the Danish cartoonist, price-hike, lawlessness and unemployment took out a procession.

SENATOR MEETS GOVERNOR: Senator Hamidullah Jan Afridi called on the NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman here at the Governor’s House on Thursday, APP reported.