Protesters gathered in Sakrand today on the call of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan to protest against the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, calling the hike and the resulting inflation an anti-people measure.
The rally was addressed by the Deputy General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Mumtaz Hussain Sehto. He was accompanied by several local political and social leaders, including District Ameer Tariq Javed, Deputy District Ameer Kanwar Rashid Mukarram, and Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Sakrand Zubair Mansoori. Also present on the occasion were Sindh United Party Taluka President Ayub Khoso, Qayyim Shahr Mufti Imamuddin, Naib Ameer Shahr Ashiq Hussain Pathan, in addition to a large number of citizens.
During their speeches, the speakers alleged that government officials are prioritizing lavish expenditures over providing financial relief to the public. They cited the alleged purchase of a plane worth 11 billion rupees for Maryam Nawaz and a car worth 20 million rupees for the Chairman Senate as examples of injustice towards the people.
The leaders added that officials like Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Asif Ali Zardari are accompanied by large security convoys consisting of hundreds of vehicles. They contrasted this luxurious display with the government’s orders for public austerity and the closure of schools and offices.
The speakers stressed that while other countries are subsidizing fuel for their citizens, Pakistan’s administration is continuously increasing prices. They said the justification for the price hike is incomprehensible, as the oil supply is stable with no reports of any obstruction at the Strait of Hormuz.
The protest concluded with a demand for the government to immediately withdraw the increase in petroleum product prices. The organizers warned that the scope of the protest movement would be expanded if relief is not provided.