PESHAWAR, Feb 2: The NWFP assembly called upon the federal government on Wednesday to withdraw immediately the fresh increase in POL prices announced on Tuesday by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

The house unanimously adopted two identical resolutions, tabled by Bashir Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party and Mian Nadir Shah of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, against the latest hike in prices of petroleum products.

Speaking on his resolution, Mr Bilour criticized what he called the unjust increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and other POL items. The crude prices in the international market, he said, were stable and showing no upward sign which was usually used as a pretext for increasing the prices.

The periodic increase in oil prices, Mr Bilour said, had added to the misery of the common man, the main victims of this hike. Any increase in POL prices leads to increase in prices of items of daily use. The federal government, he demanded, must withdraw the decision of the OCAC and OMCs".

Presenting an identical resolution on the issue MMA's Nadir Shah also demanded withdrawal of the decision and said the price-hike would hit the people hard. Most of the suicides being committed in the country, Mr Shah said, were results of increasing prices.

The government, he said, had no valid reason to allow the oil companies to increase the prices of petrol and other POL products. Rising on a point of order, Education Minister Fazale Ali drew the attention of the house to a statement by US President George Bush claiming that he had got Pakistan's education policy revamped.

Earlier, a number of lawmakers lashed out at the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company and the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for carrying out load shedding on the pretext of technical faults, load-management and repair work.

The MPAs observed that the load shedding and low gas pressure had forced people to come to the streets in protest. Senior minister Sirajul Haq said the issue would be taken up with the Pesco and SNGPL managements.

Lawmakers from both sides spoke against the inclusion of village Jehangira, a part of Swabi and situated on the left bank of river Sindh, into the district of Nowshera. Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan held over an adjournment motion tabled by Abdul Akbar Khan of the People's Party Parliamentarians on the 'double income tax' on agriculture being collected from farmers.