ISLAMABAD, May 12: The former prime minister and chairperson of Pakistan People's Party, Benazir Bhutto, has criticized the government for the disproportionate increase in fares of the PIA.

In a statement issued here by PPP media cell she demanded that PIA review the decision and follow the practice in vogue in other airlines by adding a surcharge commensurate with the fuel increase and abolishing it as soon as fuel prices fell.

She said the PPP rejected the increase on the grounds that cost of fuel has increased. She noted that other airlines put a nominal surcharge on their tickets, which is withdrawn as and when the fuel reduce.

She said the PPP government always tried to lessen the burden on the working and the middle classes whereas the non democratic governments had always been insensitive towards the ordinary people of the country.

She recalled that the PPP government had ordered Wapda, PIA, Pak Petroleum, Sui Gas and other utilities not to exploit international increase in oil prices to extort money from consumers.

"Instead, the PPP under her leadership had ordered that the increase in price should be kept as a separate account so that as and when the price internationally fell, it would automatically be reduced."

However, after the overthrow of the PPP government, the exile and imprisonment of Ms Bhutto and other leaders, anti-people forces, who were bent upon impoverishing the people were flourishing. She noted that good governance comes from an elected government, which could be seen from the performance of the PPP government.