PESHAWAR, Dec 20: The Grand Traders' Alliance and transporters staged a protest demonstration to condemn the recent increase in prices of petroleum products and demanded withdrawal of the decision.

The demonstrators led by Grand Traders' Alliance Chairman Habibullah Zahid marched from Soekarno Chowk to the press club and held a public meeting. The traders and transporters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

They blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road for about an hour. Speaking to the protesters, Habibullah Zahid said that the policies of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had failed to do anything for national development and had added to the hardship faced by the people by increasing the petroleum prices.

He warned that small traders and transporters in the NWFP would observe a strike on Dec 30 if the increase in price was not withdrawn. He criticized the provincial and district governments for failing to keep prices under control and urged them to break their silence over the centre's decision.

Another speaker called for increase in transport fairs in proportion to the raise in petroleum prices.