Govt allies join chorus of protest against fuel price hike

Opposition terms decision 'insensitive, heartless and cruel'

ISLAMABAD:

As the fuel prices whizzed past all records and the spending power of consumers received another blow, the government allies – the PML-Q and the MQM-P -- on Wednesday also joined the chorus of opposition leaders, assailing the government for letting loose a torrent of inflation on people.

A day earlier, the prices went dearer as the government approved an increase of up to Rs12.03 per litre in the prices of petroleum products, taking that of petrol to a record level of Rs159.86 per litre effective from February 16.

The price of petrol broke all previous records by reaching the Rs160 per litre mark, tightening the squeeze on consumers.

Read Govt gives in to petrol dealers’ demands

Lawmakers belonging to PML-Q – the government’s key ally – expressed concern over rising petrol prices and demanded the withdrawal of the petrol price hike.

In a meeting with parliamentary leaders held to hold consultations on the current political situation in the country, the PML-Q leaders sounded alarms over the alarming combination of woes roiling the people, including surge in petrol, energy and gas prices as well as the deteriorating law and order situation.

The PML-Q leaders demanded that the recent hike in petrol prices should be reversed immediately, cautioning that if the relief was not provided to the common man, the situation will hurtle out of control.

The current political situation in the country also came under discussion, including the fresh headwinds the government is facing from opposition seeking to pull off a no-confidence motion against the ruling party.

'Govt overburdening people'

Meanwhile, in a statement, the spokesperson of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan expressed serious concern over the sharp rise in prices of petroleum products, saying that the government was overburdening the people who are already facing the heat of the government’s policy of jacking up prices every fortnight and indirect taxes on the lower strata of the society.

“For how long will the government keep collecting taxes through the people while the filthy rich manage to dodge the tax net?”

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“These millionaires and billionaires should be brought into the tax net and the government must look into generating tax through alternative,” the statement, read, adding “We are also the elected people of the people. We are also accountable to the people”.

The spokesperson further stated that it was noteworthy that the increase in petroleum prices approved by the government even surpassed the hike proposed in the summary forwarded by Ogra. “This has never happened in the history of Pakistan.” The party requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to immediately withdraw the decision.

‘Insensitive, heartless, cruel’

In a tweet, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif termed the hike "insensitive, heartless and cruel". He urged the masses to teach Imran Khan a "befitting lesson at the time of elections".

The present govt is the most insensitive, heartless & cruel. By exploding the oil bomb on the people, it is snatching their right to live. I urge the masses to teach IK & Co. a befitting lesson at the time of elections. Those supporting this regime will also face people's ire.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 16, 2022

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also rejected the hike. He said, "After inflation, unemployment, poverty, dollar, and corruption, petroleum prices have also touched a record high in Imran Khan's government."

پی پی پی چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے پٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں اضافے کو مسترد کردیا

مہنگائی، بے روزگاری، غربت، ڈالر اور کرپشن کے بعد عمران خان نے تیل کی قیمتوں کو بھی رکارڈ سطح پر پہنچا دیا: بلاول بھٹو زرداری @BBhuttoZardari

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 16, 2022

Meanwhile, PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar said the devaluation of the rupee has landed the Pakistani nation with "unaffordable prices".

Dictated Pak Rupee devaluation has landed Pakistani nation with unaffordable prices per litre of petro products which have been increased by #ImranNiazi Govt to new peak:
Petrol Rs 12 to Rs 160
HD Diesel Rs 10 to Rs 154
Kerosene Oil Rs 10 to Rs 127#petrolprice pic.twitter.com/bZFvc6em23

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) February 15, 2022

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said petrol will become "unaffordable in Pakistan" after the recent hike. She said the government raised prices even though the global prices went down a day ago.

Petrol ⛽️ is going to become unaffordable in Pakistan.A hike of Rs 12 p/litre will bring the price to Rs 160 p/litre.The wheels of this country are coming to a grinding halt.Brent Int’l crude prices went down yesterday but #Tabahisarkar has slapped on more than a petrol levy bomb pic.twitter.com/PzCkh9cNvm

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) February 16, 2022

'Not happy about hike'

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said the government was not happy about the petrol hike as the prime minister “thinks about the poor”. He claimed the government had no option but to raise the price of petrol as it “increased from $40 to $95”.

He said either the government could take more loans and provide subsidies on petrol that would eventually compromise Pakistan’s foreign policy or “we can stand together in this tough time” till it's over.

In the next two to three months, global inflation, including petrol prices, will likely come down, Gill hoped.