ISLAMABAD: Opposition leaders on Wednesday took a swipe at the government over electricity load management, surge in fuel prices and worsening economic conditions.

Speaking at a press conference, former governor Mohammad Zubair said petrol prices have reached extremely high levels over the past three weeks. He emphasised that the opposition has raisedastrongvoiceagainsttheincrease.

He said the `prime minister reduced prices by Rs80 only after being exposed`.

He further highlighted that diesel prices have also seen a significant rise. He criticised the government for applying international pricing even on locally refined diesel, alleging that the administration has burdened the public to benefit oil companies. He questioned which ministers or advisors were responsible forthese decisions and demanded accountability.

Commenting on international financial assistance, Zubair said that the expected loan from Saudi Arabia was a welcome development but will be used to replace existing debt owed to Dubai. He added that Saudi Arabia has always supported Pakistan in difficult times.

He also noted that rising tensions, including the Iran and United States conflict, had already indicated a potential increase in petrol prices. However, he accused the government of mishandling the situation and enabling profiteering by the mafia, who allegedly earned billions due to price hikes.

Salman Akram Raja described the country`s economic conditions as extremely critical. He questioned the actions of the government formed under `Form 47` and stressed that the common citizen was facing severe hardships. He reiterated that it was the responsibilityofopposition partiestopresentthe truth before the public.

He also shared that Salman Safdar informed the party founder about the postponement of the April 9 rally.

According to him, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) advised calling off the rally and emphasised the importance of promoting peace and diplomacy.

Meanwhile, PTI has expressed grave concern and strong condemnation over the continued hurdles being created in the process of obtaining signatures from former prime minister Imran Khan on critical legal documents, stating that such actions represented a serious assault on justice, due process and the rule of law.

In a statement issued by the PTI Central Media Department (CMD), PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram asserted that the reported disappearance of the Power of Attorney and other vital legal documents insideAdiala Jail was not merely an administrative lapse but appeared to be a calculated attempt to obstruct and undermine the legal process.

PTI CIS maintained that such actions constituted a grave injustice, effectively depriving a political prisoner of his fundamental constitutional right to access justice and a fair trial.

Lashing out at the government over unscheduled and prolonged power outages, PTI CIS stated that the load-shedding crisis was not merely an administrative failure but a stark reflection of the government`s overall incompetence, flawed policymaking, and complete disconnect from the hardships faced by the public.

He said that hours-long power cuts have become routine amid the scorching heat, making daily life unbearable for citizens, while those in the corridors of power appear indifferent and lack any serious strategy to address the crisis.