News
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Protests against power outages in several cities* Angry protesters ransack WAPDA office, FESCO grid in Faisalabad
* Protests held in Peshawar, Swat, Sheikhupura, Sukkur
* Power shortfall rises to 5600 MW
FAISALABAD: Holding clubs and stones in their hands, hundreds of protesters attacked WAPDA’s sub-divisional office here on Sheikhupura Road and ransacked its premises.
The angry demonstrators also turned to Faisalabad Electric Supply Company’s (FESCO) grid station and vandalised it, giving vent to their anger over the unannounced load shedding. Police fired in the air and chased the youths to their homes in response to the stone pelting. Enraged police officials entered several houses, beat women and arrested several protesters.
Meanwhile, students of Wafaqi Urdu University in Islamabad also protested against load shedding. Residents of Khanewal also demonstrated against severe load shedding and blocked the Lahore-Multan and Khanewal-Kabirwala roads. Meanwhile, people held protest demonstrations against the prolonged power outages in Peshawar and Swat districts and demanded the government adopt measures to end unannounced load shedding.
In Peshawar’s Badabair area, the residents staged protest demonstration and burnt tyres. The enraged protesters also blocked Peshawar-Kohat road for traffic for some time in the morning. The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against WAPDA and PESCO. The speakers at the protests said that hours-long load shedding has affected industries and business activities and disturbed routine life. The protesters dispersed peacefully.
The residents of Tehsil Matta in Swat also staged a protest demonstration against power outages and blocked Mingora Road for traffic, which created problems for schoolchildren and government employees. They said that power outages had led to serious shortage of water in different localities and people were having to fetch water from far-off tube wells. They argued it was the responsibility of the government and WAPDA to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers. People in Sheikhupura and Sukkur also took out rallies and shouted slogans against the government.
The shortfall of electricity has risen to 5600MW, triggering protests. According to sources, duration of load shedding in different cities is increasing with the passage of time. Citizens of rural areas are facing outages for 20 hours while urban areas are also in grip of load shedding for more than 16 hours. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk