KARACHI, May 15: Speakers at a public meeting organized by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal at Patel Para here on Monday alleged that the rulers had resorted to razing katchi abadis, in the name of anti-encroachment campaign, to retrieve the city’s precious lands for ‘builders mafia’.

They also condemned the abnormal increases in the prices of petroleum products as ‘anti-people move’ which, according to them, was a proof that the rulers were less bothered about the miseries they had been causing to common man. On the other hand, they added, the rulers were continuing to raise the perks of ministers and advisers.

The public meeting was held in protest against the government’s policies, unannounced loadshedding, action against rickshaw and taxi drivers in the name of the drive against unfit and smoke-emitting vehicles, as well as the killings and plunder allegedly on the part of the ruling clique.

Addressing the participants, Allama Hasan Turabi said that the increase in the POL prices had pushed up the prices of all other essential commodities, making life of common man miserable. He deplored that the rulers, instead of providing relief to the poor countrymen, continued to increase the pay and perks of ministers and advisers.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui said the flawed economic policies had made it difficult for poor people earn a meal while the government had increased the salaries of ministers and legislators by 300-400 per cent.

He said that Gen Pervez Musharraf had given a free hand to the MQM do whatever it could to protect his power. “Providing employment to jobless is the responsibility of the government, but the government is harassing those who somehow earn their livelihood,” he said citing the operation against rickshaw and taxi drivers.

Mohammad Hussain Mehanti said that petrol prices over the past six years had risen from Rs24 to Rs60 per litre whereas the atta price had gone up to Rs18 per kg and sugar from Rs24 to Rs39 per kg.

He slammed the rulers for enjoying the luxuries of foreign tours for which they were spending Rs700 million a year and purchasing personal aircraft worth Rs5 billion.

Amin Khattak condemned the government for demolishing katchi abadis and rendering poor people homeless and jobless. He said that the government had the right to rule only if it fulfilled its responsibility of providing shelter, employment, education and health facilities and provided basic amenities to its people.