KARACHI, July 3: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Monday expressed concern over the increase in gas prices and termed it another ''brutal act of the government'' against the already suppressed people of the country.

In a statement, MMA Sindh President and MNA Asadullah Bhutto alleged that instead of providing relief to the masses, the government was depriving them of their right to live.

He said people were already facing hardships due to unemployment, deteriorating law and order situation, inflation and water and power crises. The increase in gas price would add to their miseries, he added.

The MMA leader said the government was playing the role of a ''recovery officer of the IMF and the World Bank'' and trying to destroy the country by selling profitable institutions at throwaway prices.

Meanwhile, MMA lawmakers Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, Abdul Sattar Afghani and Laiq Khan in a statement alleged that the government was increasing the prices of basic necessities for the rulers’ ''luxuries'' .

They said the increase in gas prices was cruelty to the people as it was a gift of nature for the people of Pakistan.

The MMA will soon issue white paper against the government and its actions that are adding to poverty, inflation, extortion and corruption, they announced, and demanded that the government withdraw the decision of increase in gas and other utilities' prices.—PPI