RAWALPINDI, Feb 6: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has termed the increase in petroleum and gas prices anti-people. According to a spokesman of the religious alliance, there were reports that electricity rates would be raised.

He held President Gen Pervez Musharraf responsible for all anti-people decisions, saying that these would further squeeze the masses who were already finding it difficult to meet their ends.

Price hike that has occurred during the last five years is more than the overall increase in prices during the last 50 years history of this country, the spokesman said.

This exposes the hollow claims of the government regarding stability of economy. Similarly, there is pressing poverty and rising unemployment. Poor are getting poorer while the rich richer resulting in a total uncertain situation. People have lost all trust in the government of Gen Musharraf and they feel insecure economically and socially, he said.

Meanwhile, the MMA has condemned the government for not giving publicity to Kashmir Solidarity Day rallies organized by the religious parties alliance.

The spokesman complained that a news blackout was imposed on their functions arranged in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day. He said different programmes were organized throughout the country by the MMA which included rallies, protest demonstrations, seminars and gatherings. Human chains were also formed, but no coverage was given on the official electronic media.

Thousands of people including women, children and the elderly participated in these functions. The biggest rally led by Qazi Hussain Ahmad was organized in the capital. All these were overlooked, he said.

The spokesman said those days had gone when the official media would stop or air news according to its wish. Now information technology had made an unimaginable progress and numerous private channels had opened in the presence of which no news could be subjected to blackout, he added.

He demanded that the information minister should explain reasons for not airing its solidarity day programmes.