Naeem lambastes govt for not reducing petroleum prices after decline in global market

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has condemned the government over skyrocketing petroleum prices even at a time when the prices are declining in the global market.

Addressing a public Iftar in Karachi's North Nazimabad area, he said the ruling regime was pressing the common people against the wall but it did not intend to curtail its own luxuries. He said the JI rejected the Rs10 increase in the petroleum levy to Rs70 in order to cover the declining prices in the international market.

He demanded that the government decrease the petroleum prices with immediate effect. He also demanded a revision in the electricity prices. Talking about the prevailing law and order situation in the country, the JI chief held the government responsible for the Jaffar Express tragedy. He said that on the one hand, the ruling regime and the state claimed that everything in the country was under control, but on the other hand, hundreds of terrorists were able to hijack an entire train.

He was of the view that the country was not moving in the right direction and held the ruling regime responsible for the ongoing crises. Rehman maintained that the situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a reflection of the weakness on part of the government and the divisions between people and the government.

He said the situation would not improve because the form 47 government was not capable of making any improvement. He said the rulers had deprived masses of purchasing power to an alarming level.

He said a vast majority of people could not afford paying school fees of their children. He demanded that the government ensure free of charge quality education for all segments of society.

The JI head also highlighted the gap between tax submission by the rulers and the salaried class. The ruling elite hardly submitted Rs5 billion tax against Rs500 billion submitted by the salaried class, he pointed out.

He asked the people of Karachi to join the resistance movement against the injustice and apartheid by the government. He announced that the campaign would be renewed after Eidul Fitr.

He also made it clear that people would not accept dual standards of the establishment as on the one hand, it asked masses for support and on the other hand, it had imposed a corrupt system on them.