PTI rallies support for August 5 protest

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LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Saturday accused the government of corruption, economic mismanagement and political victimisation, urging citizens to participate in the party's August 5 protest.

Addressing a news conference, Raja criticised the government's handling of basic commodities, fuel prices and public expenditure, while reaffirming the party's resolve to continue what he described as its struggle for public rights.

Raja expressed concern over the agricultural crisis, alleging that between four million and 4.5 million metric tonnes of wheat, potentially rising to five million metric tonnes, had gone missing due to government negligence and alleged collusion with hoarders.

"These hoarders enjoy full state patronage while the direct burden falls on the poor," he said, adding that the current system had launched what he described as a direct assault on the public's wellbeing and health.

On fuel prices, Raja rejected the government's explanation that domestic petrol prices were merely following international trends. He pointed to neighbouring countries where, he claimed, prices had remained stable, and criticised the failure to maintain national petroleum reserves, calling it an example of bad governance.

He also claimed that Punjab had provided Rs806 billion to the federation, funds he said were originally meant for health and education, while successive fuel price increases continued to burden citizens.