Taking to task: 63 arrested over grid station attack in Mardan

Anti-terrorism court grants two-day remand of detainees

MARDAN: Sheikh Maltoon police arrested as many as 63 people and produced them before an anti-terrorism court over the Mardan grid station attack.

The court granted a two-day remand of the detainees. Cases were registered against hundreds of people after the grid station was attacked on Friday.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company Maintenance General Manager Niaz Muhammad briefed Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam and Pesco chief over the damages and repair work on Saturday.

“At least three transformers, 10 breakers, two control rooms and four Wapda vehicles were damaged in the attack,” said Muhammad. “Some repairs have been made while others are awaiting equipment being brought in from Lahore.”

The GM said the grid station provides electricity to Chitral, Malakand division, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi and several other districts.

“The attack led to a major breakdown,” he added, saying restoration efforts are under way. “It will take three days to complete the repair work on the grid station.” He added the loss has been estimated at Rs100 million.

Speaking on the occasion, Muqam asked the Pesco officials to restore electricity as soon as possible. He added the power sector comes under auspices of the federal government hence they will provide every possible assistance for the provision of electricity to the people.

The attack on the grid station, added Muqam, is the failure of Mardan police and the provincial government as they could not contain the mob.

After the angry mob barged into the grid station on Friday, numerous districts plunged into darkness. Residents of Malakand took to the streets to protest the outage. They blocked GT Road in Dargai.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.