SWABI: The transporters in Topi tehsil staged a protest demonstration near the tehsil general bus against increase in price of compressed natural gas (CNG) here on Tuesday.

The transporters gathered at tehsil headquarters bus stand and raised slogans against the government. They asked the government to immediately issue a new fare list or reduce the prices of CNG.

The protesters said that prices of CNG were continuously increased by the ruling party since it came into power last year after the general elections. They said that government failed to increase the fare of the routes.

They said that soon after increase in prices of CNG when they started demanded increased fare, the commuters were not ready to pay it and asked them to show the new fare list issued by the government.

Protesters demand of govt to issue new fare list

The transporters said that they should not be forced to give a call for wheel jam strike and protest. “Owing to increase in price of CNG, it is not possible for transporters to ply their vehicles,” said Khanzada, one of the transporters.

Younas Khan, another transporter, said that they could not continue their business without increase in the fare.

DSP Ijaz Khan, Assistant Commissioner Tariq Hussain and tehsil nazim Sohail Yousafzai assured the transporters that their demands would be discussed with the quarters concerned.

JI: The youth wing of Jamaat-i-Islami held a protest demonstration here on Tuesday against hike in prices of essential commodities.

The JI youth wing workers marched to Karnal Sher Khan Chowk where their leader addressed them. They were holding placards inscribed with slogans against the price hike.

Saeed Zada, former district emir of JI, said that there was no ray of hope that the prices of the commodities would be controlled by the government. He said that the survival of the poor and middle class became difficult but government was only increasing prices of daily use items.

The JI youth wing leaders said that prices of essential commodities were manifold since PTI assumed power. “The economic position of the country continues to decline and a highly perturbed scenario prevails in the country,” they added.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2019