PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Aimal Wali Khan has criticised the latest increase in petroleum prices, terming it a ‘blatant economic attack’ on people.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said the repeated hike in petroleum prices was not due to any unavoidable compulsion but rather a continuation of ‘anti-people’ economic policies. He alleged that the government was using regional tensions and fluctuations in the global market as an excuse to burden the already struggling masses.

“Citing the regional situation as justification for the increase in oil prices is tantamount to misleading the public,” he said, adding that fluctuations in global oil prices were not a new phenomenon. “The real question is whether the burden of every global crisis must be borne solely by the people of Pakistan.”

Mr Khan accused the government of hiding its economic mismanagement behind international developments, while heavily taxing citizens through the petroleum levy and other duties. He rejected the government’s claim of absorbing the impact of rising global prices, calling it “completely false.”

ANP leader accuses govt of hiding its economic mismanagement

“The same government takes credit when prices are slightly reduced, but avoids responsibility when they are increased,” he remarked.

He further claimed that over Rs180 billion had been collected from the public in the form of petroleum levy in just the past six weeks.

Mr Khan demanded the immediate withdrawal of the recent increase, abolition of what he described as “unjust taxes and levies” on petroleum products, and urgent steps to provide relief to the public.

Meanwhile, ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that people are still deprived of the benefits of the 18th Constitutional Amendment due to the ‘incompetence’ of the rulers.

He expressed these views while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the Empowered Youth Parliament as the chief guest, during which he also administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers.

Mr Hussain said ANP, through parliamentary struggle, secured the rights of the people under the 18th Amendment, but regretted that its true implementation remained lacking. He noted that although the Constitution grants provinces full authority over their resources, it was not being implemented in letter and spirit.

He said the primary responsibility of parliamentary representatives was to legislate and improve governance systems, but unfortunately, lawmakers in Pakistan were more interested in contracts and tenders than in lawmaking.

Highlighting the role of youth, he said that young people played a crucial role in strengthening politics, democracy and parliament, adding that they also bore significant responsibilities in safeguarding public rights and ensuring peace. He said the ANP had always supported the inclusion of youth in politics and provided them with opportunities to move forward.

Mr Hussain alleged that elections were often marred by rigging, adding that mandates given by the public were frequently undermined.

He criticised the growing trend of bringing people into parliament through financial influence, questioning how such individuals could genuinely represent the public.

ANP provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai and other speakers also addressed the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026