Lahore: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, has termed the recent increase in petroleum prices in Pakistan as an unjust and anti-people decision despite a significant decline in global crude oil prices. He demanded that the government immediately withdraw the recent increase of Rs. 55 per litre in petrol prices.He expressed these views while addressing an Iftar dinner organized by Tehreek-e-Mehnat Lahore at Syed Maududi Islamic Center.Ziauddin Ansari said that globally petroleum prices have **dropped from 119 dollars to 84 dollars per barrel, which represents a 32 percent decrease۔ He regretted that instead of passing the benefit of this major reduction to the people, the government has dropped a “petrol bomb” of Rs. 55 on the public, which clearly reflects anti-poor policies.He demanded that the government should provide relief to the people with the same speed with which prices are increased, and immediately remove the additional burden imposed on the public.The Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore further said it is extremely alarming that even countries facing war situations are providing cheaper petrol to their citizens while people in Pakistan are being forced to buy the most expensive petrol in the region , which is unacceptable.Criticizing the government’s claims, he said that the government itself had admitted that the country currently has petrol reserves for 28 days, yet it continues to burden the public under the pretext of global prices, which indicates clear bad faith. He said that during the holy month of Ramadan instead of providing relief to the people, the government is increasing economic pressure. As a result, prices of essential food items and transport fares have surged dramatically even before Eid, leaving the poor struggling to survive. Ziauddin Ansari demanded that if the rulers are sincere in providing relief to the people, they should reduce their extravagant expenditures. He added that while the public is being squeezed economically, the purchase of a new aircraft worth Rs. 11 billion for the Punjab government is nothing less than adding insult to injury. He warned that if the recent increase of Rs. 55 is not immediately withdrawn public patience may run out, and **Jamaat-e-Islami will raise its voice against this injustice at every level.
