The opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) activists took out rallies in different towns on Saturday against inflation.
Despite a ban on rallies and protests under Section 144 in Swat, scores of political activists from different parts of the district staged rallies and gathered at the Nishat Chowk in Mingora, chanting slogans against the constantly increasing prices of daily use commodities and petroleum products.
Addressing the rally, PML-N Swat president Qaimos Khan, MPA Sardar Khan, Maulana Hujjatullah of JUI-F, Dr. Khalid Mahmood of PkMAP, and Razaullah Khan Advocate of QWP said that inflation had broken all previous records, stressing people out.
These opposition leaders said that every sector of the economy was on verge of collapse, and people were committing suicide. They said the ‘incompetent’ rulers did not know how to run the country.
Bannu’s rally
In Bannu city, the local chapter of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) held a protest demonstration against inflation and lawlessness.
Led by district president Shakil Khan Advocate, the PPP workers marched through different bazaars and gathered near the Pareti Chowk.
PPP general secretary Taj Mohammad Khan Advocate, senior vice-president Malik Idrees Khan, vice-president Malik Janabeel Khan, and Peoples Lawyers Forum president Imran Ali Shah also participated.
The PPP leaders blasted the government for an unbearable price hike and lawlessness in the country. They said the incompetent rulers had destroyed all institutions of the country.
They maintained that the IMF-dictated economic policies have resulted in a surge in prices of essential commodities, forcing people to commit suicide as they could not afford to buy food items.
In Shangla, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl workers blocked the Karakoram Highway in Bisham Chowk to protest the price hike.
JUI-F
The protest call was given by JUI-F central leadership. The protesters were led by JUI-F Shangla emir Qari Zainullah, Imad Ahmad Khan and Maulana Faheem Khan.
Rallies were also taken out in the Bisham Bazaar, Maira, Shang, and other parts of the district, where the JUI-F workers chanted slogans against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In Bajaur, the JUI-F activists held a protest rally against the uncontrolled price hike and joblessness and called upon Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down.
Scores of party activists, students of seminaries, and traders participated in the rally held in the main Khar Bazaar.
The demonstrators condemned the unbearable hike in prices of petroleum products and essential food items.
JUI-F provincial leader and former Senator Maulana Rahat Hussain, district chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed, general secretary Maulana Mohammad Laiaq and others spoke on the occasion.
