ISLAMABAD, June 20: Opposition leaders on Wednesday lashed out at the rulers for, what they called, failed economic policies over the past eight years, causing price-hike, unemployment and corruption in the country.

The leaders, belonging to the major opposition parties, were speaking to the participants of a protest demonstration arranged by the Women Wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) outside the Parliament House building.

A large number of women and children participated in the protest carrying placards and banners condemning the government’s economic policies. The protesters also condemned the UK government for awarding the title of “sir” to writer Salman Rushdie who had committed blasphemy by writing objectionable and insulting remarks against Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

Those who spoke to the protesters included Liaquat Baloch, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Asadullah Bhutto, Mian Aslam and Dr Farid Piracha of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Pervez Malik of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP).

The speakers rejected the federal budget for the year 2007-08 and termed it “anti-poor” and “pro-elite.” They said the government had announced the budget only for the rich and no relief had been provided to the poor in it. They said the government was “lying” to the nation that the country had a bumper wheat crop this year. They regretted that due to the failed economic policies of the regime, the gap between the rich and the poor was increasing.

The opposition leaders also condemned the government’s foreign policy. They said that the country was facing a serious law and order situation and no one was feeling safe here. They said that people were being killed in Balochistan and Waziristan and the government was not ready to listen to the grievances of the masses.