PTI announces APC, terms fuel hike ‘unjustified’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday said the party would convene an all-parties conference (APC) to discuss the recent increase in petroleum prices and its impact on the public.

The announcement came during a press conference at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House, where Gohar, along with Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, criticised the price hike as unjustified and harmful to citizens.

Describing the issue as “very serious”, Gohar said the proposed moot would bring together like-minded political parties to formulate a joint response. “We do not want the burden to be passed on to the public,” he said, warning that failure to stabilise prices could severely affect the economy of ordinary citizens.

Read: Govt increases petrol tax to Rs161 per litre, sets new price at Rs458 per litre

The PTI chairman accused the government of continuing “extravagant spending” while shifting the burden onto the public. “You cannot ask the people to act responsibly while indulging in excesses yourself,” he said.

Criticising the increase in the petroleum levy, he said the government had failed to provide relief by reducing indirect taxes. Drawing a comparison with India, he said authorities there had reduced excise duties, questioning why similar measures could not be adopted in Pakistan.

Gohar also questioned the government’s claims regarding fuel availability, noting that officials had stated petroleum stocks were sufficient until May. “If there is no shortage, then why are prices rising even during restricted supply conditions? Where is the product going?” he asked.

He alleged that the government lacked public support and was attempting to shift the consequences of its “mismanagement” onto citizens. Referring to reports that around 95% of oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, he said there had been no indication of disruption, raising questions about the rationale behind the increase.

“Mismanagement cannot be justified,” he said, adding that the government was passing on the burden to cover its fiscal shortfall.

The PTI chairman said the issue should not be politicised, describing it as a matter of public welfare. “All political forces must come forward. Pakistan and its interests should come first,” he said.

Terming the increase “unnecessarily steep”, he said that although petroleum prices had risen in 96 countries, Pakistan had witnessed one of the highest increases after Vietnam. He also alleged that the government had failed to successfully negotiate with the International Monetary Fund.

Highlighting the scale of the impact, Gohar said there were around 1.4 million motorcycles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and more than 2.5m across the country, suggesting that a large segment of the population would be affected. He further alleged that the government’s measures had opened new avenues for corruption.

He also urged the international community to take steps to end the ongoing conflict, which he said was contributing to rising global fuel prices.

Turning on to the rally announced on April 9, he said the party had submitted an application to the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi seeking permission to hold a rally.

Dismissing reports of differences within the opposition, Gohar said there were no rifts with Mehmood Khan Achakzai or Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. He explained that both leaders were currently away due to Eid commitments but would soon join the party’s efforts. “They will stand with us and continue to lead the movement,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Jhagra criticised the government’s handling of the situation, questioning why the prime minister addressed the public when prices fell but not when they increased. He said petrol prices had surged by Rs137 in a single day, noting that the price stood at Rs139 in March-April 2022.

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“We now expect the same statements that were made during our tenure,” he said.

Jhagra said that during the tenure of PTI founder Imran Khan, the leadership had prioritised public relief despite reservations from the bureaucracy.

He alleged that the current government was reluctant to face the public and said the increase in prices was unnecessary and could have been limited. Drawing comparisons with India and other countries, he claimed fuel prices there were lower.

Criticising the government’s subsidy measures, he termed them inadequate and warned that higher fuel prices would lead to an increase in the cost of essential goods.

He further alleged that, in addition to the price hike, the government had increased the petroleum levy and customs duty while continuing to impose climate-related levies, even on high-octane fuel.

“This is not just a price increase; additional taxes are also being imposed,” he said.

Jhagra suggested that the government should reduce its own expenditures, including selling government-owned aircraft and withdrawing free fuel privileges for senior bureaucrats.