Plunged into darkness: Locals protest against excessive load-shedding

ANP Charsadda chapter schedules demonstration for June 1

SHABQADAR: Residents of Abazai, Tangi tehsil in Charsadda blocked roads over prolonged load-shedding in the area on Thursday. Awami National Party also announced a protest against persistent power outages in Charsadda on June 1.

Locals from Abazai led by various village nazims took to the streets and blocked the main road connecting Tangi to Shabqadar and Mohmand Agency.

Residents said they will not reopen the roads unless 18 hours of load-shedding in the area is stopped. They urged Pesco officials to assure them that the situation will improve and their suffering will decrease.

SDPO and Tangi additional assistant commissioner met the demonstrators later in the day and assured them that their demands will be fulfilled. Locals opened the roads after the moot, allowing traffic flow to resume.

Meanwhile, ANP Charsadda chapter announced a district-wise protest against excessive load-shedding.



ANP District General Secretary Muhammad Ahmad Khan told the media the party leadership has appealed to district party workers and others to come out on roads on June 1 against power outages.

He said locals are paying their bills and dues regularly and unscheduled load-shedding is unacceptable in these circumstances. Muhammad Ahmad added the demonstration will take place on June 1 as Ramzan commences soon after.

Charsadda tehsil council members held a meeting to adopt a resolution against prolonged power outages in the district on Thursday.

A fair exchange

Shabqadar tehsil council member nazim Zafar Ali Khan assured Pesco officials of full assistance in recovery of funds if power outages were reduced. He said if Pesco officials decreased load-shedding from 20 to six hours a day, tehsil council members will help them recover monetary dues from people in the region.

“We have constituted a village committee for this purpose and if Pesco does not provide relief to us and cooperate, we will come out on roads against the federal government and Pesco officials,” nazim Zafar Ali said.

Alternatives

Most parts of Charsadda, especially NA-8 in Tangi tehsil and most areas in Shabqadar tehsil, have faced excessive power breakdowns that last around 20 hours a day. A majority of people are now opting for solar energy as an alternative. They have also threatened to not pay their electricity dues if load-shedding is not reduced.

Locals said BA and DAE exams will be held soon and power breakdowns will add to the woes of students.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2016.