petroleum-productsThe government came under severe criticism over a massive hike in petrol prices, among other national issues, during a session of the National Assembly as well as outside the parliament on Saturday.
The treasury benches were shocked on Saturday when Raja Riaz – a ruling party member elected from Faisalabad – blasted his own party’s government over the exponential increase in the petroleum prices. Riaz, in his speech in the National Assembly, said the prices have been raised by Rs25 within a night, adding that they are not receiving development funds despite winning the elections and being in the government. “Who is getting these funds,” he remarked.
Rana Sanaullah, who is the president of PML-N Punjab chapter, said the FIA has been assigned with the task of targeting the opposition and questioned the increase in the budget allocated for the interior ministry. He said the entire focus of the government is on propaganda. The increase in the POL prices is the biggest robbery in the country’s history and the government along with the petrol mafia has robbed the people of billions of rupees, he added.
During the session of the Lower House, PML-N MNA Khurram Dastgir said that in the history of the country, petrol prices have never been increased by 34% in one go. “The government is becoming a facilitator of mafias,” he said, adding that he can sense that the government benches are ‘in a state of fear’.
PPP lawmaker Abdul Qadir Patel said the FIA should probe who hoarded up petrol reserves, which exacerbated the national fuel crisis. “The FIA should investigate who is behind this mafia and who is getting a cut out of it,” he said.
The prime minister recently approved a massive hike in the prices of petroleum products in view of the rising oil prices trend in the global market, according to an official notification. The petrol prices, according to the recommendation, were bumped up Rs 25.58 per litre. Similarly, the per-litre prices of high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene oil, and light diesel were increased Rs 21.31, Rs 23.50, and Rs 17.84, respectively.
Outside the parliament, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said increasing the rate of petroleum products by the government at a time when the nation needs more relief is an anti-people act. He said his party condemns the massive raise in the price of petroleum products and rejects this move. He alleged the ‘selected’ prime minister is not caring for the masses. “Imran Khan cannot prop up sinking economy by robbing the pockets of the people,” he said. “First of all, Imran Khan got hoarded the petrol by decreasing its prices and later benefited the mafia by inflating its rate all of a sudden,” he stated.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif also rejected increase in petrol prices and termed it as anti-poor step by the incumbent government. Condemning the increase, Sharif said that first the government allowed hoarding of petrol by decreasing its rates and then benefited the petrol mafia by increasing prices. He said the prices of other commodities were not decreased when the fuel rates were brought down, but they rose with the hike in petrol prices. He said that the ‘selected’ prime minister has no concern for the common man and their problems.
The PML-N also demanded the resignation of the prime minister. Party leaders said that Imran Khan should admit his failure in running the country and go home. Talking to media along with Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that on May 31, 2018, when their government’s term ended, Pakistanis used to buy petrol at Rs 72.11 which was taxed and sold at Rs 87.70. “While today, the actual price is Rs 55 and taxes are more than Rs 44. The petrol costing Rs 55 to 56 should be sold at Rs 67, at the most,” he added.
The PML-N leader lamented the hike in petrol prices as the economy is already in shambles. He said the 34 per cent increase in petrol prices has added to the government’s failures and put a mammoth burden on the public.
Khawaja Asif said that Imran Khan tweeted on petrol in 2013 and 2018 and criticized the PML-N government regarding petrol prices demanding resignations. “If he has the courage, he should now resign as well,” he remarked, adding that the storm of inflation will not stop here “but we will work out a joint strategy with all opposition parties to rid the people of Imran’s ego”.
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the government imposed additional taxes on petroleum products through the ‘back door’. “This sudden increase in the price of petrol will have long reaching effects. The increase of Rs 25 per litre is a deadly blow to the country’s economy,” he added.
