Islamabad, Sep 20 : Former cricketer and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan has castigated the government for increasing prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel when its rates in the world market were showing a significant downward trend.

Talking to reporters, Imran said by increasing the diesel prices the rulers had compounded financial problems of the common man.

“The new rulers are even worse than Shaukat Aziz, having no sympathy with the poor,” he alleged while advocating reduction in POL prices.

The PTI chief said the rulers had no interest in the resolution of the masses’ problems as they were engaged in manoeuvres on how to save their government. He questioned the constitutional position of President Asif Ali Zardari’s oath-taking, saying the “real Chief Justice” was yet to be reinstated for which the movement would continue.

Asked about his anticipation as to what the new president would announce in his parliamentary address after less than 24 hours on Saturday, Imran maintained Zardari had nothing to offer to the nation.

Casting doubts on the credibility of the PPP-led government, he charged that the new set-up was installed under a deal between the United States and Zardari. He alleged that Zardari was also pardoned by former president Pervez Musharraf under the same understanding in the garb of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Referring to the situation in the tribal belt, Imran said that the government had failed to stop the US from killing innocent Pakistani women and children as their attacks continued unabated inside Pakistan.

The PTI leader said that this was all happening also as a result of a mutual arrangement. He described the US criticism in Pakistan Parliament as a mere drama. (ANI)