June 21, 2015
News
Interrupted electricity, uninterrupted protests
* Demonstrations in Peshawar, Karachi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and many other cities against forced load shedding of up to 18 hours
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/KARACHI: The claims of reduction in power outages by the government proved hollow as the protests against load shedding continued across the country for the second day on Saturday.
Worst scenes were witnessed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where hundreds of angry demonstrators staged a sit-in outside the Wapda House in the provincial capital. Residents of Urmar blocked the road for several hours, burnt tires and shouted anti-government slogans. Some of the protesters attacked the main gate of the Wapda House and tried to force their way inside. However, a large number of police deployed at the venue repulsed them.
The vehicle of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Amir Muqam was also caught in the way as angry protestors surrounded it and chanted slogans against the government. Muqam was due to attend a meeting at the Wapda House on the issue of load shedding.
Protestors complained that despite the orders of the prime minister, Wapda continued to cut off power for up to 18 hours during the holy month of Ramazan. The long duration of power cuts forced people to keep and break their fast without electricity.
Member of the provincial assembly Ishtiaq Urmar said that they will continue the protests until their demands are met. He alleged that the load shedding was a conspiracy against the province which will not be tolerated any further. On the other hand, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) spokesman said that electricity theft in Urmar was the major reason behind the tripping of the electricity feeders.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial president Fazal Muhammad Khan in a press conference alleged that the unjust load shedding by the federal government was a conspiracy to defame the PTI government in the province. “The federal government should stop the artificial load shedding in the province otherwise PTI, the provincial government and the people of KP will march on Islamabad,” he said. Fazal demanded the provincial inspector general of police take due action against police officials responsible for torturing peaceful protestors in Swabi and Charsadda. “The province had no electricity problem until a day before the start of Ramazan. However, the artificial load shedding by the federal government has forced people of KP to fast during the hot weather without power,” he added. The PTI provincial president said that Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak has called a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue of load shedding and plan the future course of action to deal with the situation. Protesters in Karachi lashed out at K-electric over prolonged outages in the holy month of Ramazan.
Mercury rose to 44.8 degree centigrade on Saturday, in a hottest day for the Karachiites. The metrological office has forecast hot and very hot weather in Karachi and its surrounding areas during the next 24 hours as well.
Angry protesters in Hyderabad burnt to ashes WAPDA’s sub-divisional office. The protesters entered the building, smashed windows and furniture and tore off official records before putting the premises to fire.
Protests were also observed in several areas in Punjab’s capital Lahore where angry demonstrators shouted slogans against the government and demanded uninterrupted electricity during the month of Ramazan. Similar protests were also held in Sahiwal, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad districts.
The power shortfall on Saturday reached 5,500 megawatt (MW) resulting in unannounced load shedding in urban and rural areas due to increased pressure on the system.
According to the National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) sources, the electricity demand is 21,000 MW whereas the production is 15,500 MW.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk