Petrol price hike will increase crime rate, lead people towards suicide: Farooq Sattar

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr. Farooq Sattar on Friday rejected the massive increase in petrol prices, warning that it could destabilise the country’s economy and make life increasingly difficult for citizens.

The federal government has raised the price of petrol by Rs138 per litre, bringing the new rate to Rs458.40 per litre. Meanwhile, diesel price has been increased by Rs184 per litre, reaching Rs520.35 per litre.

In a statement, Dr. Farooq Sattar termed the hike in petroleum prices an “extremely unwise decision” and said it was unacceptable under any circumstances.

He warned that such measures would not only destabilise the economy but could also lead to severe social consequences.

“People may be pushed towards extreme actions, including suicide, while crime could also increase, and citizens may become alienated from the state and the law,” he said.

The MQM-P leader urged the federal government to immediately withdraw the increase in fuel prices and reconsider its decision in the interest of the public.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman strongly condemned the sharp increase in petroleum prices, terming it a “petrol bomb” dropped on the public by the government.

He also announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement against the hike.

In a video statement, Hafiz Naeem urged the government to defer payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and regasification plants, and to reduce its own expenditures instead of placing additional burden on the public.

Criticising government spending, he alleged that authorities are unwilling to reduce their own luxuries while imposing financial pressure on the public.

Hafiz Naeem questioned why payments to IPPs—amounting to billions under capacity charges—cannot be deferred, claiming that such payments are placing an undue burden on the public.

He also highlighted that regasification plants installed at ports are continuing to receive daily payments despite no gas supply, questioning why these payments are not being stopped.