ATTOCK, March 16: People have decried as “cruel” the second time increase in the prices of petroleum products that have instantly triggered a hike in rates of daily-use commodities and transport fares.

They criticised the caretaker government for the “arbitrary increase” in the fortnight, which was made without considering the financial status of the masses.

“This shows the poor planning on the part of the present government, besides exposing the tall claims that all efforts had been made in the last eight years to provide relief to the common man and to control price hike,” they said.

According to them, the higher POL prices would leave their effect on all sectors, including transportation, industry and agriculture.

“All this is being done as part of a conspiracy only to destabilise the democratic process and the future’s strong political government,” local politicians claimed.

They said the caretaker government had no right to take the policy decisions.

“The caretakers have enhanced POL prices to punish the people for voting against the one-man rule and in support of the restoration of deposed judges,” they alleged.

In Taxila, people from different walks of life, including politicians, civil society activists and locals, described the fresh adjustment as “an anti-people decision”.

They said that the claims made by the previous government to give relief to the masses had proved a farce.

Talking to this reporter, the consumers said the caretaker set-up was not authorised to increase the oil prices, adding that it would compound the problems of the masses. “The transporters have already increased the fares,” an educationist Mohammad Ali said.