Protest Over Loadshedding: 40 booked for public property damage

Damaging public property and disturbing law and order in Ghizer valley during a four-day protest against power outages

GHIZER: At least 40 people have been booked for damaging public property and disturbing law and order in Ghizer valley during a four-day protest against prolonged power outages, police sources said on Tuesday. Protest demonstrations erupted in Ishkoman valley of Ghizer on Friday, where the people, suffering from poverty and deprived of basic facilities, clashed with the police against power cuts. During the protest which gradually spread to other parts of the valley, a police van was torched, injuring a magistrate and two policemen. The protesters blocked all the main roads to the valley and chanted slogans against the ‘inept’ government. According to experts, G-B has the potential of generating over 55,000 MWs from existing water resources, which is currently being overlooked due to government’s neglect.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2011.