PTI announces APC, terms fuel hike ‘unfounded’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Friday that the party would convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the recent rise in oil prices and its impact on the public.

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

Describing the issue as “very serious”, Gohar said the proposed motion 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 have serious consequences for the finances of ordinary citizens.

Read: Govt hikes petrol tax to Rs161 per litre, sets new price at Rs458 per litre

The PTI chairman accused the government of continuing with “extravagant expenditure” while shifting the burden to the public. “You cannot ask people to act responsibly while you yourself indulge in excesses,” he said.

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

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

He argued that the government lacked public support and tried to shift the consequences of its “mismanagement” onto citizens. Citing reports that about 95% of oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, he said there had been no indication of disruption, raising questions about the rationale behind the increase.

“Mismanagement cannot be justified,” he said, adding that the government was shifting the burden to cover its fiscal 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 should come first,” he said.

He termed the increase as “unnecessarily steep” and said that while oil prices had increased in 96 countries, Pakistan had witnessed one of the highest increases after Vietnam. He also alleged that the government had failed to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund.

Highlighting the magnitude of the impact, Gohar said there were about 1.4 million motorcycles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and more than 2.5 meters across the country, suggesting that a large segment of the population would be affected. He further claimed that the government’s measures had opened new avenues for corruption.

He also called on the international community to take steps to end the ongoing conflict, which he said was contributing to rising global fuel prices.

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

Gohar denied reports of differences within the opposition and said there was no rift with Mehmood Khan Achakzai or Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. He explained that both leaders were currently away due to 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 and questioned why the prime minister addressed the public when prices fell but not when they rose. He said petrol prices had increased by Rs137 in a single day, noting that the price stood at Rs139 in March-April 2022.

Also read: Rana Sanaullah defends fuel price hike, links it to global crisis

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

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

He alleged that the current government was reluctant to face the public and said the rise in prices was unnecessary and could have been contained. Comparing with India and other countries, he claimed that fuel prices were lower.

He criticized the government’s subsidy measures, terming them inadequate, and warned that higher fuel prices would lead to an increase in the cost of essential goods.

He further claimed that in addition to the price hike, the government had increased the oil tax and customs duty while continuing to impose climate-related taxes, even on high-octane fuel.

“This is not just a price increase; additional taxes are also being imposed,” he said.

Jhagra proposed that the government reduce its own spending, including selling state-owned aircraft and withdrawing free fuel privileges to senior bureaucrats.