PTI announces APC, calls fuel increase ‘unjustified’

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

The announcement was made at a press conference at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House, where Gohar, along with Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, criticized the price hike as unjustified and detrimental to citizens.

Terming the issue “very serious”, Gohar said the proposed debate would bring together like-minded political parties to formulate a common response. “We don’t want the burden to be passed on to the public,” he said, warning that failure to stabilize prices could seriously affect the economy of ordinary citizens.

Read: Government increases tax on petrol to Rs161 per liter and sets new price at Rs458 per liter

The PTI chairman accused the government of continuing its “extravagant spending” while putting the burden on the public. “You can’t ask people to act responsibly while indulging in excesses yourself,” he said.

Criticizing the increase in oil tax, he said the government had failed to provide relief by reducing indirect taxes. Drawing a comparison with India, he said that country’s authorities had reduced excise duties, wondering why similar measures could not be adopted in Pakistan.

Gohar also questioned the government’s claims about fuel availability, noting that officials had said oil stocks were sufficient until May. “If there is no shortage, why are prices increasing even under tight supply conditions? Where is the product going?” he asked.

He alleged that the government lacked public support and was trying to blame the consequences of its “mismanagement” on 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 justification for the increase.

“Mismanagement cannot be justified,” he said, adding that the government was offloading the burden of covering its budget deficit.

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

Terming the increase “unnecessarily sharp”, he said that although oil prices had increased in 96 countries, Pakistan had seen one of the highest increases after Vietnam. He also alleged that the government had failed to 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 2.5 million across the country, suggesting that a large part of the population would be affected. He further claimed 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.

Regarding the rally announced on April 9, he said the party had submitted an application to the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi for permission to hold a rally.

Dismissing reports of differences within the opposition, Gohar said there was no rift with Mehmood Khan Achakzai or Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. He explained that the two leaders were currently absent due to their 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 criticized the government’s handling of the situation, questioning why the Prime Minister was addressing the public when prices were falling but not when they were rising. He said petrol prices increased by Rs 137 in a single day, noting that the price stood at Rs 139 in March-April 2022.

Read also: Rana Sanaullah defends rising fuel prices and links it to global crisis

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

Jhagra said that during PTI founder Imran Khan’s tenure, leaders prioritized public assistance despite reservations from the bureaucracy.

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

Criticizing the government’s subsidy measures, he called them insufficient and warned that rising 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 oil tax and customs duties while continuing to impose climate-related taxes even on high-octane fuels.

“It’s not just a price increase; additional taxes are also being imposed,” he said.

Jhagra suggested the government should cut its own spending, including selling government-owned planes and removing free fuel privileges given to senior civil servants.