The government has come under fire for hiking the prices of petroleum products extraordinarily.

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif rejected the 33 percent increase, saying the highest increase in the history of petroleum prices was ‘sugar scandal part two’.

He called the decision ‘atrocious’ and said now ‘petrol mafia’ has been given licence to loot the poor people.

“This government is the backing the mafias. It first gave licence to sugar mafia and now it has let the petrol mafia go on looting-spree. Imran Niazi’s promises to the people have proven false.”

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1276575536018608129

The opposition leader chided PM Imran and questioned if such steps lead to the new Pakistan the premier makes frequent mention of.

"Is this the new Pakistan? Where is the economy when unemployment and disease go on rampant?

However, he said that his party would protest in the parliament and every possible forum against the price hike.

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1276575866127036424

Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the massive increase.  He called the government decision an ‘anti-poor’ at a time when people are in need of relief.

The persons doing such a massive increase in prices of petroleum were criticising minor raise (for the same) in the past, the PPP chairman said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan can’t save the sinking economy by robbing people of their hard-earned money. Bilawal too blamed PM Khan for backing petrol mafia.

“The government allowed the hoarding of petrol by slashing rates and now it is benefiting the petrol mafia by increasing prices.”