KARACHI: In line with its countrywide call for protest against growing inflation and economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, the Pakistan Peoples Party on Friday staged protests across Sindh where leaders and workers vowed to continue their struggle till the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In Karachi, a large number of party activists gathered near Empress Market in the second half of the day where the party’s Karachi president and Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani, Sindh PPP general secretary Waqar Mehdi led the protest.

The PPP leaders accused the PTI government of toeing the line of International Monetary Fund, which had led to a human crisis in the country amid growing inflation and declining business activities.

“The PTI government has broken a 70-year-old record of inflation in over the past three years,” said Mr Ghani while addressing the demonstration.

“Everyone is out on roads protesting against this incompetent government and asking for the prime minister to resign. Inflation has reached nine per cent in Pakistan according to the World Bank which is higher than other South Asian countries and instead of fixing this crisis, the government has also warned of higher inflation. This is exactly why PPP is marching today against crippling inflation, and unaffordable life in Naya Pakistan.”

He said that PPP would always be standing with the people of Pakistan as the party was on the same page with them, unlike this government.

Considering the prevailing situation the resignation of the prime minister was a justified demand of the people, the PPP leaders said.

Protest in other cities

In Sukkur, senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah led a protest demonstration against the federal government’s policies and price hike.

Addressing the protesters at Sukkur Bypass, he said that Imran Khan, prior to becoming prime minister used to boast about bringing a political and social change. But he failed, he said.

In Hyderabad, PPP activists blocked a section of Hyderabad Bypass near Qasimabad and chanted slogans against the PTI government.

Led by PPP’s Sindh chapter president Nisar Khuhro and other leaders, the protesters staged a sit-in on main road.

Addressing the protesters, Mr Khuhro said that the people were holding protests right from Karachi to Kashmore against price hike and added that the people were forced either to sell themselves or commit suicide.

He said that Imran Khan was living in Banigala by declaring it the Prime Minister House. He said that Rs4 were being increased in fuel prices every month and this would not help control price hike and added that petrol would be available at Rs200 per litre if this government remained in power.

He stated that while electricity was not available, its tariff was continuously being increased.

In Larkana, Aijaz Leghari, general secretary of the PPP’s Larkana district, along with other office holders staged a sit-in at Sachi Bakhsh Jagirani bypass and Shaikh Zayed Road.

Carrying banners and placards and chanting slogans, they lashed out the performance of the PTI government that had “gifted people with unbearable price hike” making difficult for the people to hardly have two times meal.

In Mithi, the PPP workers also took to the streets to register their protest against the rising prices and inflation.

A large number of party workers under the leadership of Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani after marching on different roads of the town gathered at Kashmir Chowk where they staged a demonstration to record their protest.

The PPP leaders speaking to the media said Imran Khan led-PTI government had become a security risk for the country.

In Umerkot, a protest demonstration and sit-in was held at Teen Talwar Chowk. PPP MPA Ameer Ali Shah, adviser to CM Sindh Poonjo Bheel and local leaders led the protest, where a large number of women activists also participated.

Speaking on the occasion, they said that ‘anti-peoples’ policies of the federal government had put the people in hell of sky-rocketing prices.

The party leaders and workers also staged demonstrations in Badin, Dadu, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Tangwani, Kashore-kandhkot, Khairpur, Pannu Aqil and Ghotki.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2021