PPP workers gear up for nationwide protest against inflation

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers and leaders are gearing up for a nationwide protest drive against inflation on the instructions of their chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

PPP chairman, in a gathering of select party workers at Karachi’s Gharibabad locality on Monday, had announced that his party would hold nationwide protests on October 29 against inflation, poverty and unemployment.

The provincial leaders of the PPP have been directed by the party chairman to mobilise workers to register a strong protest.

Sherry, Murtaza slam PTI for inflation

PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman shared that she was not surprised that the government has broken the “70-year record of inflation” in just three years.

“Prices of staple food items like poultry, sugar, ghee and flour have broken all past records while the government has given no explanations and nor has it shared any exit strategy,” lambasted Sherry.

“Between October 2018 to 2021, petrol prices have increased by 49% while electricity rates have gone up by 57%. Meanwhile, urban food inflation is in double digits for the last two years at least. Prices of ghee, sugar and 20kg bag of flour over the last three years have increased by 108%, 83% and 52%, respectively. Is this the tabdeeli that was promised?” she questioned.

Sherry claimed that food prices are expected to rise further when the rate of petroleum products increases.

The PPP leader also hit out at the PTI government over the Financial Action Task Force’s decision to keep Pakistan on the grey list.

“After all the bulldozing of bills, it is unfortunate that Pakistan remains on the FATF grey list and despite the economic mess that they have put Pakistan in, the government seems least interested in fixing pressing issues as it is busy in vile campaigns against opposition members, female journalists or busy in extending PEMRA’s powers who is acting like Pakistan’s vice and virtue police,” said the senator.

Agreeing with Rehman, PPP Parliamentary Leader in Punjab Assembly Syed Hassan Murtaza advised PTI to register ‘inflation’ as its election symbol instead of ‘bat’.

“In the name of sham ‘change’ they gave the masses inflation,” said Murtaza.

Taking a jibe at the government the PPP MPA said that if it was in the government’s hands they would “impose an oxygen tax” as well.

“We are mobilising our workers across the country including Punjab on the instructions of the party chairman and will register a strong protest against rising inflation across the country,” Murtaza told Bol News.