KARACHI, June 2: Jamaat-i-Islami has reacted strongly to the increase in petroleum prices without taking into account the hardships of the people, and terming the continuous rising trend of POL prices as ample proof of the anti-people stance of the government.

Demanding immediate repeal of the increase in petroleum prices as well as a relief package for the poor, the JI Karachi chief, Dr Mairaj-ul-Huda, said that skyrocketing prices have made the life of the poor extremely miserable.

He said that the military rulers have even surpassed their civil counterparts by sharply increasing utility services rates such as water, power, gas, medicines and other essential commodities.

By raising prices at regular intervals, the rulers repeatedly prove their loyalty to the world financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, he said, adding that justifying the increase in POL prices by calling it essential is to play a cruel joke on the people.

Meanwhile, the PPP Karachi Division, while rejecting the continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products, has stated that the Musharraf government, under the cover of Oil Companies’ Advisory Committee, has been pursuing the agenda of world financial imperialism.

The party, in a meeting held on Sunday and presided at by Muzaffar Ali Shujra, said that the government, instead of reviving the economy, industries and trade, had been experimenting to meet its expenditures by imposing taxes on essential commodities.

Calling for repealing its decision to increase POL prices and power rates, the party warned that if the government failed to review these decisions, the PPP would initiate its campaign to stage protest demonstrations.

The meeting expressed concern over Indian terrorism and the grave situation along the country’s borders. It observed that the inept policies of the government were tantamount to playing with the future of the country.

Condemning the new drive of the character assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the party appealed to the Supreme Court that in view of the dangerous situation in the region, it should withdraw the mandate given to the Musharraf government and set up an interim national government; withdraw army officials from the KESC, Pakistan Steel, WAPDA and other institutions and instead, they should be deployed on the country’s borders.

By a resolution adopted at the meeting, the government was also held responsible for the shortage of water. By yet another resolution, the party expressed concern over the increasing number of targeted killings, dacoities and anti-social activities.

TRANSPORTERS: The Karachi Transport Ittehad has demanded that the oil companies’ advisory committee be disbanded and the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products be withdrawn.