KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers on Friday used donkey carts to reach the Sindh Assembly in a protest against the cost of petroleum products.
PTI MPA Sajjad Ali Soomro and other party members rode the carts from an area near the assembly to its main entrance, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the recent fuel-price changes.
The lawmakers said their demonstration was intended to highlight the financial difficulties faced by citizens as fuel and other living costs remain a concern. They called for the recent increase in petroleum prices to be withdrawn.
The protesters also called for austerity measures to be applied to those in government, arguing that public officials should lead by example when asking citizens to reduce spending.
During the protest, PTI lawmakers also raised questions about government expenditure and referred to an aircraft they claimed was worth Rs11 billion, seeking an explanation regarding its use.
The demonstration followed a resolution recently passed unanimously by the Sindh Assembly calling on the federal government to stop daily increases in petroleum prices and provide greater stability for consumers. The resolution was moved by PTI lawmaker Muhammad Owais. (Pakistan Administrative Service)
The Sindh Assembly’s resolution argued that daily fluctuations in international oil prices should not automatically be passed on to consumers and called for measures to stabilise petroleum prices. (Pakistan Administrative Service)
The protest comes amid continuing debate over fuel costs and government austerity measures introduced in response to higher energy prices.
