The city transporters have announced to observe a complete wheel-jam strike on July 14, 2009 against the Presidential Ordinance to maintain the parliamentary decision regarding 17 per cent hike in petroleum products. However, on Tuesday the apex court suspended the parliament decision to levy carbon surcharge on petroleum products.
Accepting for hearing a petition, filed by an opposition politician, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and ordering the Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra) to withdraw the tax, pending the final decision. Talking to Business Recorder on Thursday, President Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI), Syed Irshad Hussain Bukhari, said that the transporters would observe a complete wheel-jam strike against the restoration of old prices of petrol and diesel.
Before this Ordinance and after court's decision of suspension of carbon tax, the transporters were considering to reduce public-transport fares, but after the decision of the president, transporters have decided to convene a meeting of all transporters on Friday (today) to chalk out future strategy, he said.
People of the country and transporters were happy after the order of Supreme Court of Pakistan to suspend the recent 17 percent raise in petroleum products. However, the democratic government increased the prices of petroleum by the Presidential Ordinance, which has enhanced miseries of common man, he added. The transport leader alleged that the present government was not sincere to provide any kind of relief to the masses, as it has dashed all hopes of the millions of the people by the increase of petroleum prices again.
After the recent increase, already poverty-stricken people would have to pay the price because the prices of daily use commodities would sharply go up, he opined. He said that the transporters would approach people, traders, political and religious parties across the country to join hands against the recent price hike of POL and to press concerned authorities for the reduction of petroleum prices immediately.
Previously, the government used to increase the prices in accordance with the international market, but now he alleged that the authorities have increased prices on their own. In addition to this he said that the operators in other provinces would be urged to observe strike on the same day to show solidarity for the national cause, meanwhile, inter-city transporters also announced to join hands with the city transporters against the increase in petroleum prices.
President Sindh Air-conditioned Bus Owners Association, Haji Iqbal said that the transporters are being compelled to close their business, as it had become difficult for them to run vehicles. The government is taking an anti-people decision, which is against the slogans of 'Roti, Kapra aur Makan,' he added.
He said that the prices of petroleum products were firm in the international market while the present rulers increase it after every month, putting extra burden on shoulders of poor people. Increase of fares is not the resolution of transporters' woes, instead we would stand with the common masses against the government's decision, he added. The present hike in diesel prices would not only ultimately result in increase of public transport fares but also the prices of almost all daily use commodities would also be increased, he added.
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