Protests broke out against gas load shedding in Jhang on Sunday.
Hundreds of protesters blocked roads at Shorkot Cantt, Jhang City, Basti Noorpura, Satellite Town and Qasmi Colony and suspended traffic for several hours.
The protesters, including children and the elderly, were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against Sui Nothern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) authorities and demanded immediate restoration of gas supply in their areas.
Muhammad Akhtar, one of the protesters at Gojra Road, told newsmen that the government had urged people to get gas connections instead of using firewood.
He said when they did, SNGPL started load shedding in their localities.
Sadia Rasheed, a protester from Satellite Town, said her mother had been unable to cook food for weeks.
“Breakfast time has become the worst time of the day,” she said. “We cannot eat or bathe.”
She said in the evening, there was again no gas to cook with.
“It is freezing outside and people can’t escape indoors because there is no source of warmth there,” she said.
The protesters burnt old tyres and paralysed traffic on city roads.
On receipt of information, several police contingents reached sites where the protesters had gathered.
They assured protesters that steps were being taken to address the gas load shedding issue. The protesters dispersed on police’s assurance, saying they would return if gas was not restored within a day.
SNGPL spokesman Abdul Ghafoor told newsmen that gas supply to Jhang had been suspended due to a leak in a gas pipeline.
He said SNGPL teams were repairing the pipeline.
He said gas supply would be restored as soon as repair work was completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2014.
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