ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: On the call of a civil society organisation, scores of people including students, activists and political workers held a protest demonstration here at Aabpara Chowk against the increase in prices of basic commodities and loadshedding of electricity and gas.

Organised by the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad, the protesters marched through the Aabpara Market and chanted slogans against the price hike of daily-use items.

Criticising the government, speakers on the occasion said the government was not paying any heed to what they called overwhelming problems being faced by the people. They said the government policy was anti-people and pro- capitalists, adding that it did not take into account the miseries the masses were facing across the country.

“Recent electricity, gas and wheat flour crises have exposed the government’s claims of economic development,” the speakers said, adding that problems of people had increased many-fold in the last eight years. They claimed that resentment among the people against the government was touching new height as, according to them, people were facing many a problem like spiralling increase in the prices of daily commodities and unemployment.

“The only way to steer the country out of crisis was stepping down of President Musharraf immediately, restoration for the pre- November 3 judiciary and setting up of an independent election commission and holding of transparent elections,” the speakers said.