“Our Marie Antoinette” says she bought and operated a plane and wants to travel in it, but should also consider what happened during the French and Russian revolutions, said the PTI leader.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 19th Sep, 2026) Economic spokesperson for the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Aain Pakistan Taimur Saleem Jhagra said, “At least my Marie Antoinette cared enough about the people to want them to eat cake.” He said, “Our Marie Antoinette says, ‘We bought the plane, operated it and want to travel in it.’ They should also see what happened during the French or Russian revolutions.”
Speaking at a news conference, he referred to the famous French remark, “If you do not have bread, eat cake.” He said that at least Marie Antoinette had enough concern for the people to want them to eat cake.
“Our Marie Antoinette says that we bought it, operated it and want to travel in it. They should then also see what happened during the French Revolution, or what happened when the revolution came in Russia.
Times do not remain the same.”
Regarding the poor and ordinary Pakistanis, he said he had already explained the matter previously, and “Zubair Bhai” had also stated that it was shameful to increase petrol and diesel prices by 45 rupees each within just 10 days.
He said that after the war in Iran began, Pakistan had witnessed the world’s highest increase in petrol prices and the second-highest increase in diesel prices. He said prices were high there, while no increase of even one rupee had been made in Bangladesh and India during the previous 10 days because they had democratic governments.
Large protests were held there, but the governments did not suppress the system; people could raise their voices and the governments were accountable. He said there was no tax and petroleum levy of 125 rupees there, while there was one in Pakistan, and it could not be removed because “you have broken the records of my Marie Antoinette as well.”
He questioned what people had received in return, saying the motorcycle and 800cc vehicle schemes introduced for show were among the most absurd schemes.
He said everyone knew they were merely a “topi drama”: the government continued its luxuries and then offered something for appearances.
He said that if the government claimed it would spend 25 billion rupees on the schemes instead of reducing the petroleum levy, the poorest people did not own motorcycles or 800cc cars, so how would they be covered by the schemes? He said the discount was on petrol, not diesel.
People using public transport and owners of diesel vehicles would not benefit, although the government itself had said it tried to reduce diesel prices because diesel caused greater inflation. He asked why a diesel subsidy had not been provided.
He said 800cc cars and motorcycles were also present in the homes of wealthy families, asking who would prevent their misuse.
He also asked who would compensate petrol pump dealers who had been demanding compensation. He said the daily petrol pricing system had caused crowds to gather at petrol pumps at 11 a.m. every day, with a new account beginning each day.
He said that, instead of providing 20 litres, a system had apparently been devised under which a person could use only 5 litres in one week to achieve further savings.
He asked whether motorcycle and car owners would now have to buy petrol worth 500 rupees every week to receive the discount, saying he had never seen such a system anywhere in the world.
He suggested selling the 12 billion-rupee jet and reducing the petroleum levy accordingly.
He said this showed the real situation: the government imposed on the people had no concern for the destruction of ordinary citizens, who were paying the price.
