Thousands of men and women attend the demonstration held under MQI & PAT jointly to protest price hike

Minhaj-ul-Quran International and Pakistan Awami Tehreek jointly organized huge demonstrations to protest against the government’s consistent policy of increasing prices of POL products, dearness and escalating inflation, which were attended by thousands of men and women. These demonstrations were simultaneously held in Rawalpindi, Karachi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujrat and other towns.

Central leaders of MQI lead the protest demonstration ||| Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, addressing the rally

Women in their hundreds also attended the protest. They are carrying placards, PAT’s flags and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s pictures during the demonstration.

The protest demonstration under the banner of PAT and MQI started from Shuhada Mosque and concluded on the Punjab Assembly. The participants were carrying placards and raising slogans against the so-called people’s government. The banners were also hung along the route from Shuhda Mosque to the Punjab Assembly. Women bearing infants also attended the demonstration. Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General of MQI, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, senior Deputy Secretary General, Anwar Akhtar Advocate, Secretary General of PAT and Irshad Ahmad Tahir led the protest demonstration. G.M. Malik, Jawad Hamid, Sajid Bahtti, Afzal Gujjra, Hafiz Ghulam Farid and other leaders were also part of the demonstration.

‘Public Protest’ under MQI & PAT passing through various locations. PAT’s flags and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s pictures can be seen aplenty.

‘Public Protest’ under MQI & PAT passing through various locations. PAT’s flags and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s pictures can be seen aplenty.

‘Public Protest’ under MQI & PAT passing through various locations. PAT’s flags and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s pictures can be seen aplenty.

Addressing the protestors, Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that the policies aimed at snatching the last loaf of bread from the 97% of populace have continued unabated during the last three years since the government has been in power. The poor’s right to life is also being taken away. He said that the government has been increasing the prices of POL products every month under different excuses, which the people of Pakistan fully reject. The presence of thousands of people in the protest rally in Lahore is a demonstration of no trust in the government policies. He said that last three years saw an unprecedented increase in the prices of the eatables from 50% to 150%. Quoting various figures, he said that sugar, flour, milk, curd, meat, rice, pulses registered phenomenal increase. He added that it has become difficult for the common man to make his both ends meet with the present rate of food and non-food inflation.

A beautiful view of protest rally of MQI & PAT, which is on its way towards its destination at The Mall Lahore

Regretting this pathetic state of affairs, Dr Reheeq Abbasi said that billions of rupees are being spent on the members of provincial and federal legislatures and according to an estimate; their annual expenditure is 17 billion rupees. A member of Assembly incurs an expenditure of 0.2 million monthly in addition to other perks. He suggested that relief can be provided to dearness-stricken people by doing away with these privileges. He further said that people can be given subsidy if corruption of billions of rupees is reduced in the government departments. He ridiculed the PPP’s claim of being a popular party, saying its actions are contrary to its claims. He warned the government that the people would take to streets and hold the government accountable if it did not change its pro-elitist policies. The wave of awakening, which is currently sweeping through Yemen, Egypt, and Jordan can direct itself to Pakistan as well if the ruling elite stays put in its ways.

Women join the protest march to show their disapproval of the government’s policies aimed at increasing prices of eatables etc

Dr Abbasi suggested to the government to fix the prices of eatables and put a cap on it for five years. He said that we are peaceful people and advise the government to act before it is too late and public anger explodes into the public agitation at a massive level and sweep away everything.

Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Senior Naib Nazim-e-Aala & other leaders of MQI Faisalabad lead the protest demonstration

Anwar Akhtar Advocate, Secretary General of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, said that the conduct of the government during last three years has put a question mark over its performance. While people are being ground by price hike, the ruling elite of all hues and colours is busy in fighting its turf wars. If the government did not change tack, it would give birth to anarchy in the country.

Faisalabad: Women in their hundreds also attended the protest. They are carrying placards, PAT’s flags and Shaykh-ul-Islam’s pictures during the demonstration.

Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz criticized the rulers for their negligence of public problems. He said that the widening gulf between the haves and have-nots has grave implications for the state and society and if the government did not do something to stem this state of affairs, we must brace ourselves for bigger crises. Irshad Tahir, Amir of MQI Lahore, also spoke on the occasion.

Pictorial highlights of the ‘Public Protest’ from different angles, Faisalabad