JI threatens protest against hike in gas bills, loadshedding

PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Central) head Abdul Wasi on Sunday condemned the unbearable hike in prices and inclusion of unjustified taxes in gas bills and continuous and unannounced suspension of its supply in the city and its suburban areas.

Addressing the district shura meeting of the party here, he said that the low pressure and supply cuts of gas have been causing serious problems for the domestic consumers in cooking food and meeting other necessities. This, he said, while addressing a district shura meeting of the party here on Sunday.

He asked the government to take immediate action to end the worsening gas shortage and lower its prices besides eradicating the withdraw the unjustified ‘fixed charges, general sales tax and other taxes’ from gas bills, otherwise, Jamaat-e-Islami would launch a protest movement against what he termed as an injustice to the people.

District president of the party, Bahrullah Khan Advocate, vice-presidents, Hamdullah Jan Budhni and Hidayatullah Khan along with zonal leaders Riffatullah Asad Chamkani, Malik Saeed Khan Afridi and Fazl Kareem Mashokhel were also present on the occasion.

Other speakers on the occasion highlighted the difficulties faced by the people due to low gas pressure particularly in preparing breakfast. Many children are forced to leave for school without eating due to the lack of gas supply in the mornings, they said.

They criticised the government for its complete failure on all fronts. They said that the people of the province have been already struggling with worsening law and order, inflation, unemployment, and street crimes.

“Now, the severe loadshedding and unbearable hike in the prices of electricity and gas has made life further difficult.”The JI leaders warned that if the government failed to change its anti-people policies, they would launch a massive protest movement across the province to safeguard rights of the people and provide them justice.