Opp demands PM Imran’s resignation over 'petrol bomb'

Opposition leaders say PM doubling down on belt-tightening inflation; call on nation to get rid of 'tyrannical govt'

KARACHI/LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari slammed on Saturday the Rs4 hike in petrol prices, saying the only solution to get rid of inflation was to overthrow Prime Minister Imran Khan's government.

The government increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4 per litre, according to a statement issued by the Finance Division late on Friday.

The overnight hike in the price is part of a commitment made by the government under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a net fiscal adjustment of almost Rs550 billion during the remaining part of the current fiscal year.

Taking a jibe at the prime minister, the PML-N leader said that it would have been better if PM Imran had resigned instead of dropping a “petrol bomb” on the people right at the onset of the new year.

"The governments in the world make things cheaper on festive occasions. But Imran Niazi dropped an inflation bomb. The PTI government could not bear the joy of the people on New Year," the leader of the opposition stated.

Read Rs4 hike in petrol price greets consumers on New Year

He said that “another name for the present government was oppression, exploitation and indifference.”

The opposition said the premier “should not punish the nation for his follies.”

“Instead of burying the people alive [under inflation], Imran Niazi should resign," the PML-N leader said, adding that that nation will have to get rid of this “tyrannical government” to save itself from inflation, economic catastrophe and unemployment in the new year.

“We pray to the Almighty that the New Year may be the beginning of deliverance of the nation from the torments of inflation, mismanagement, economic ruin, hunger, disease, oppression and injustice,” Shehbaz said.

‘A new year gift’

In a separate statement, the PPP chairperson sarcastically noted that PM Imran had given a “new year’s gift” to the people by increasing the prices of petroleum products.

Bilawal said that in the ‘Naya Pakistan’, every passing year has proved to be “more expensive than the last”, adding that everything is later blamed on the previous governments’ policies.

He further added that PM Imran had claimed that 2021 would be a year of prosperity. “Where was the claim of prosperity now that 2022 has arrived?” the PPP leader asked.

Read More: Inflation peaks 12.3% with inflationary budget on horizon

He recalled that the premier had claimed that 2021 would be a year of prosperity but "2022 has now arrived [so] where did that claim of prosperity go?"

Hike in petrol price greets consumers on New Year

As the bells tolled for another new year, petrol prices went dearer following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s approval for an increase in oil prices of up to Rs4 per litre.

The new prices came into effect on January 1.

After the increase, the price of petrol jumped from the previous Rs140.82 per litre to Rs144.82 per litre, while the price of high-speed diesel soared to Rs141.62 per litre from the previous Rs137.62 per litre.