LAHORE: The Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) staged protest demonstrations in various cities in Punjab against loadshedding and unbridled price hike in the wake of increase in petrol and power prices.

In Bahawalpur, local activists of PTI and ISF office-bearers and workers gathered in front of the press club to lodge protest.

The demonstrators raised slogans, seeking withdrawal of hike in petrol, diesel and electricity prices.

JI: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq says the government has dropped another fuel bomb on the nation on the dictation of the IMF, creating unbearable situation for the millions of people who are already suffering due to inflation.

“The irony is that the ruling elite itself has never been ready to make any sacrifice. It has always picked the masses as scapegoats,” he said while addressing the JI Majlis-i-Shura at Mansoora on Friday.

The JI, he said, was rejecting the hike in fuel prices and power tariff and it would not sit silent over the crimes of the rulers against the poor of the country.

The three-day session of the JI council began here on Friday to discuss the prevailing situation in the country.

Sirajul Haq, who already announced a countrywide protest movement against inflation and interest-based economy from June 11, said the JI would not only discuss the prevailing crises during the council sessions but also present a plan before the nation to bring it out of the mess created by the three ruling parties during their terms.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022