On Monday, opposition leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) pressed the government to take immediate action on several fronts. They called for the withdrawal from the Board of Peace, a stance that avoided any involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran, and also advocated for reversing the significant hike in petroleum prices.
During a press conference held in Islamabad, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, senior party leader Babar Awan, and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas made their demands. They emphasized that the Gulf region was experiencing an exceptional crisis and warned of “barbarity” imposed upon it by certain forces.
Raja stressed the importance of Pakistan’s nuclear status in addressing the situation, saying, “It is time for us to play our role as a nuclear power.” He further warned against property destruction occurring within Arab countries or anywhere else. Raja pleaded with leaders to resolve the crisis through dialogue rather than repeating past mistakes and urged everyone to sit at the negotiating table.
He also noted that the recent Rs55 per litre increase in petrol prices signified what could be on the horizon for Pakistan’s economy. The PTI Secretary General claimed no other country in the region had implemented such a significant price rise, accusing the elite of exploiting the situation by not reducing their own spending.
PTI leaders’ remarks have reignited discussions about how best to manage and potentially mitigate the economic fallout from rising petroleum prices, while also positioning Pakistan as a responsible player within its regional context.