ISLAMABAD (HRNW): Senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Dr. Farooq Sattar, has vehemently criticized the federal government’s recent hike in petroleum prices, labeling it an “inflation atom bomb” dropped on the common man. Speaking to the media outside Parliament House on Monday, Dr. Sattar expressed deep concern over the timing and method of the price increase, stating that the government failed to consult its allies before taking such a drastic step.
Dr. Sattar highlighted that while international market prices had not seen a corresponding surge, the Pakistani government rushed to increase domestic rates, further breaking the back of a public already struggling with historic inflation. He warned that such a sharp rise in fuel costs would inevitably lead to a spike in suicide rates and street crimes as people become increasingly desperate.
The MQM-P leader pointed out a recurring pattern where political parties, once in power, prioritize increasing the Petroleum Levy over public welfare. He suggested that instead of burdening the poor, the government should shift the financial weight onto the elite. “The elite should bear the burden, not the people,” he remarked, further challenging political leaders to prove their commitment to the country by contesting the next elections with simplicity rather than lavish spending. Dr. Sattar concluded by warning that the post-Eid landscape could become highly volatile if the government continues to ignore the plight of the masses.
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