Jamaat-e-Islami holds protest demo

Rawalpindi: Women Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged a protest demonstration against increase in prices of petroleum products on Murree Road here on Monday. The women protest was followed by another demonstration led by JI Central Naib Amir Dr. Muhammad Kamal who is also candidate for bye-elections from NA-55. Ms Iffat Sajjad, District Amir of JI Women Wing, led the female demonstration, which was also participated by a number of workers and was later joined by housewives from nearby localities. The protesting women carrying placards were raising slogans against the government enforcing 5% to 9% raise in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and other petroleum products. A big banner attracting attention of motorists and passers-bye was inscribed with slogan ‘Withdraw increase in petroleum products’ and ‘Get masses rid of electricity and gas loadshedding’. Addressing the protestors, Iffat Sajjad said that the increase in petroleum products would directly and indirectly affect people who are already hit by price-hike of essential commodities, unemployment and bad law and order situation. Speaking at the other protest demonstration, Dr. Muhammad Kamal said the PPP government in the centre and PML-N government in Punjab have failed to resolve basic problems of the masses. He said following increase in prices of sugar and other commodities and loadshedding, the raise in tariffs of petroleum products and gas had come as yet another shock for the poor masses. Other speakers including JI Amir Rawalpindi Raja Abdul Waheed, General Secretary Shamsur Rehman Swati and others strongly criticised policies of both the government. “The two governments are involved in friendly-fire,” they said.