Petroleum price hike: PML-N protest plan puts govt in a fix

The party had previously joined hands with MQM to oppose similar hike.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government stands in a fix as the main opposition party – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – plans to stage a protest against increase in the price of petroleum products.

With limited options to stop another imminent hike in petroleum products prices, PML-N is all set to test its nerves in upcoming session of the National Assembly (NA).

“We will reinvigorate our protest in the upcoming session,” PML-N Deputy Information Secretary Khurram Dastgir, who is also a member of special committee on petroleum prices, told The Express Tribune.

He said that the government has failed so far to curtail its expenditures and is passing the burden on to the public. “Increasing petroleum prices is the easiest way for the government to generate revenue,” Dastgir added.

PML-N in an earlier proposal, has asked the government to stop double taxation in terms of petroleum levy and then sales tax.

Earlier this month, the unpopular decision by the government of increasing the prices of petroleum products had led an ally of the government, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), to join hands with the PML-N to demand the reversal through a joint resolution in the NA.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2012.