Aimal Wali Khan criticises government over fuel price increase

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan on Saturday criticised the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the recent increase in fuel prices, saying the move had added to the difficulties faced by people already struggling with inflation.

Speaking to the media in Peshawar, the ANP leader said people across the country were facing a sustained rise in the cost of living, while the government was placing further pressure on them and then making announcements that, in his view, were intended to soften public reaction.

He said the government had first raised the petrol price by Rs137 per litre, taking it to Rs458, and later announced a reduction of Rs80 per litre, bringing it down to Rs378. According to him, the public was still paying Rs80 more per litre than before the increase.

Aimal Wali Khan said the sequence of decisions amounted to an attempt to shape public perception rather than provide genuine relief. He said the government had taken what he described as an irrational, undemocratic and anti-people decision by sharply increasing petrol prices and then presenting a partial cut as relief.

“The government first took an irrational, undemocratic and anti-people step by suddenly increasing petrol prices by Rs137 per litre, taking it to Rs458. It then announced a partial reduction of Rs80, bringing the price down to Rs378 per litre. Yet the reality is that the public is still bearing an extra burden of Rs80 per litre compared to the price before this abrupt hike”,he said.

He further described the move as a deliberate psychological tactic aimed at managing public response to the price adjustment.

“This is a game with public psychology. First, an extraordinary increase is imposed to create pressure, and then a partial cut is presented as 'relief' to win cheap applause”, he added.

The ANP chief linked the fuel pricing decision to the wider economic strain being experienced by ordinary citizens. He said the public was already caught in a wave of inflation and accused the government of pursuing irresponsible policies while engaging in political theatrics.

His remarks came during a media interaction in Peshawar, where he framed the fuel price changes as part of a broader pattern of governance that, he said, was increasing the burden on the public rather than easing it.

The statement adds to political criticism of the government’s handling of fuel prices at a time when inflation remains a central concern for households across Pakistan.