President Asif Ali Zardari remained under fire in the provincial metropolis over the promulgation of the Ordinance increasing the prices of petroleum products in the country. Transporters and a religio-political party staged separate protest-demonstrations to register their protest against the increase in prices of petroleum products here on Friday.
Transporters staged their protest-demonstration in front of the General Bus Stand (GBS) on main G T Road, while Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) organised it at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC). The demonstration of the transporters was led by Haji Ihsanullah, President Sarhad Legal Transporters Action Committee. Shabir Ahmad Khan, a former MMA MNA from Peshawar city, spearheaded the political activists.
The protestors were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the decision of the government and demands for the withdrawal of the Ordinance. The transporters demanded the withdrawal of the decision, and in case of failure, warned the government of a wheel-jam strike.
Jamaat-i-Islami criticised President Asif Ali Zardari for the promulgation of the Ordinance. The call for a protest demonstration was given by the Central Amir JI Syed Munawar Hassan. A score of JI activists were carrying banners and placards inscribed with ant-government slogans. The protesters were also raising slogans against both the Federal and Provincial governments.
Addressing the protesting J.I activists, Shabir Ahmad Khan alleged that the President of Pakistan had promulgated the Ordinance for fulfilment of the demands of the International Monetary Funds (IMF), saying that the decision would increase the miseries of the people.