The Peshawar chapter of PPP on Wednesday announced to protest against inflation, lawlessness and unemployment on December 20. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar chapter of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday announced to protest against inflation, lawlessness and unemployment on December 20.
Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, PPP Peshawar District President Zulfiqar Afghani lashed out against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments and held them responsible.
“The party’s district chapter will hold a sit-in on GT Road on December 20 and will rally against price hikes, unemployment and lawlessness. If the government fails to reverse these trends, we will extend our protest,” he said.
The party will hold a meeting on December 16 in the city where senior leaders will discuss local bodies’ elections and arrangements for Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary.
Afghani also criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over his comments on the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s (ZAB) nationalisation policies. “It reflects his ineptitude,” he added, referring to Nawaz.
Defending ZAB’s legacy, Afghani said, “Nationalization of industries was carried out to protect the rights of labourers in the country and it was in tandem with international trends and movements.” He accused Nawaz Sharif’s family of conspiring against the government back then.
Commenting on the current state of the economy, he blamed the federal government for making life ‘difficult’ for the average citizen to manage two meals a day. “The price hike witnessed during the last six months has surpassed the record of the past 60 years,” he claimed.
The district president felt more attention has been given to drone strikes in comparison to those suffering from inflation. “Nobody has taken notice concerning the millions of Pakistanis affected by this.”
On the prime minister’s recent scheme on issuing business loans for the youth, Afghani said the government had promised interest-free loans. “It turns out that these loans are being doled out at eight percent interest,” he claimed.
He also took pot shots at the provincial government led by the PTI and said “their promised change was nowhere to be seen in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa” since the party took charge.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2013.
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prices come under Federal govt. how is PTI responsible? what are these people still doing in politics? why doesnt PPP join PTI in the protest on Dec 22? I mean the purpose of a protest is to get you voice heard, the more the people, the louder your voice and concerns will be heard. They should JOIN PTI's protest instead of making a fool out of themselves.
is it against your last government? lol