Low gas pressure: Rawalpindi residents continue protest

Residents of different Rawalpindi areas took to the streets and blocked roads, demanding uninterrupted supply

RAWALPINDI: As low gas pressure persists, residents of different Rawalpindi suburban areas took to the streets on Monday and blocked roads, demanding uninterrupted supply.

The residents of Ahmedabad, Qaid-i-Azam Colony, Lakkhan, Ghaziabad and Garoti areas staged a protest against the low gas pressure and blocked Dhamial Road, causing a massive traffic jam for over an hour.

The protesters including women and children chanted slogans against the government and the gas company for what they said discrimination being meted out to them. They claimed that they are being deprived of the essential commodity and posh areas are being supplied gas with full pressure.

“We voted for the PML-N in the 2013 elections and the local government polls but to our utter dismay, the ruling party has not given any heed to solve the low gas pressure issue in our area,” said Amina Bibi, a resident of Ahmedabad.

She said that the low gas pressure problem further exacerbated after the local government elections were held. “We have lodged several complaints with the gas company and with the local leadership of the PML-N, only to be told that the gas supply will become normal in a few days,” said Dilpazir Khan, a resident of Chakri Road.

Nisar Ali, a bus driver, said that the protesters blocked the road and stopped traffic police from clearing it for over an hour. Later, Lakhan UC Chairman-elect Faisal Iqbal and MNA Malik Abrar negotiated with the protesters, who ended the protest after they were assured their issue will be taken up with high-ups.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2015.