The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) -- an alliance of opposition parties -- as well as the PPP on Friday kicked off their separate anti-inflation protests in various cities across the country.
The leaders and activists of the PDM staged protests in Karachi, Lahore and other cities.
The PDM had announced last week that it would start a countrywide protest movement against the ruling PTI from Wednesday and would go for a long march in the coming months.
The leadership of the alliance had also rejected the proposed electoral reforms and amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
Speaking at a rally at Karachi's Empress Market that started after Friday prayers, JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the protests were a “public referendum” against the PTI-led government.
JUI-F chief and head of the PDM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, called off his visit to Karachi at the last moment, allowing Haideri to lead the rally in the city.
Haideri claimed that the entire country had been left at the mercy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"[Prime Minister] Imran Khan used to say he would kill himself before going to the IMF. He had promised 10 million jobs, instead 16,000 people were sacked in Islamabad," he added. “People are being forced out their homes in Karachi in the name of encroachment.”
Addressing another rally staged near Jain Mandir Chowk in Lahore, PML-N's Saad Rafique said the nation was facing “back-breaking” inflation, unemployment, and lawlessness.
“It is also watching the degradation of state institutions.”
He said predicted another wave of inflation in the country in the aftermath of recent talks with the IMF.
“Why are people dying of hunger? Why are they killing themselves? Why are they cursing the government? This did not happen overnight.”
Rafique accused the premier of failing to meet his pre-election promises. "You made empty promises. You are not capable of anything, only destruction [of the country]."
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has issued a schedule of protests against inflation in Punjab and instructions have been issued to all organisations and wings including doctors, labourers and traders.
READ PDM rolls out anti-inflation protests today
A rally was held from Jamia Masjid Shahar Wali (Main City) in Muzaffargarh and a protest was led by PML-N leader Qari Saifullah Saifi in Murree.
Protests also took place at Ayub Chowk in Jhang, Allama Iqbal Chowk in Sialkot, Shangla, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Larkana, Sukkur, Mardan, Jacobabad, Mohmand, Ziarat and Mingora.
On Sunday (today) a rally will start from Chowk Hussain Agahi in Multan. A protest will also be held in front of the Gujranwala Press Club.
Separately, the PPP staged a protest in Karachi's Malir district. Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that party activists had gathered to “show a mirror” to the PTI government.
He lambasted the government for burdening the country's citizens.
Shah claimed that when the PPP would come into power in the Centre, it would ease the burden of inflation on the people. “The protests are the voice of the poor, the labourers and the nation.”
He added that PM Imran had spent his entire life abroad and lacked first-hand knowledge of poverty in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab blamed the “incompetence” of the PTI government for the increasing inflation.
In response to the protests, Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib said the opposition parties were staging demonstrations because they were "jobless".
Speaking to the media in Lahore, the state minister also highlighted the measures taken by the government to counter the rise in the prices of various commodities.
He said government representatives were working with mills’ associations and taking steps to reduce taxes to bring down the price of one kilogramme of ghee by Rs40 to Rs50.
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