ISLAMABAD: Islamic Political Party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) has given an ultimatum of 72 hours to the Pakistan government to withdraw its notification of increasing prices of petroleum products, threatening dire consequences if its demand is not met within the given time.

Saad Hussain Rizvi, the leader of the TLP, warned that if the government did not reverse its decision to raise petroleum product prices, protests and sit-ins would paralyse the entire nation, further harming the lives of the populace and appeasing the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He told a press conference, "I am giving the administration a 72-hour ultimatum to rescind the increase in the pricing of petroleum goods immediately."

The TLP choked the federal capital and its twin city Rawalpindi for weeks while its party supporters blocked main highways, roads, and connecting routes in major cities including Lahore and Karachi as it protested against the then-reigning government and mobilised hundreds of thousands of its supporters, who forcibly raped women. Rizvi warned, "If the government fails to meet our demands, we will do what is we are well-known for."

On February 16, the Shehbaz Sharif-led administration raised the price of gasoline by 22.20 PKR and High Speed Diesel (HSD) by 17.20 PKR per litre in order to comply with the requirements of the vital IMF funding approval.
The recent price increase and the over 100% spike in petrol prices have added to the nation's already dangerously high inflation rate as it continues to face the possibility of an impending economic disaster.

"For the 23rd time in the past 75 years, the government of this nation was pleading with the IMF. In only a single year, Pakistan's debt grew by 23%. These leaders do not consider requiring the IMF to tour the nation's arsenal and nuclear facilities as well. The poor individual is so oppressed by these activities that he cannot even contemplate protesting "commented Rizvi.
"The government should reduce the number of ministers and advisors on staff in order to reduce costs. Government officials and politicians should no longer be given free fuel because they consume millions of litres each day." Asserting that an Islamic system in the nation is the only way to resolve the current issue, Rizvi advised the TLP officer bearers to approach everyone involved in public participation, including the business community.

The TLP has a large following and has demonstrated its street power through rallies and sit-ins in the past, forcing any reigning government to the ground.

When the administration of the late premier Imran Khan likewise hiked the price of fuel, it retaliated harshly.

Prior to that, the TLP had called for the expulsion of the French ambassador and raised a loud objection to what it deemed to be the French premier's deliberate targeting of his remarks, in which he had justified the offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published in France in 2020 by referring to them as expressions of free speech.

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