Losing patience: Locals take to the streets against prolonged power outages in the city

Traffic jams cause commuters long hours of waiting

PESHAWAR: Massive protests were held in parts of the city and its outskirts on Wednesday against prolonged and excessive power outages during Ramazan. Protesters blocked Kohat Indus Highway, Bara Road and Charsadda Road for many hours and burnt tyres in protest.

“Neither we have electricity nor water in our houses in this scorching summer weather,” said a local, Fazal Aziz, who was among the protesters in Badabher. “Government is not even showing mercy to the residents in Ramazan.”

Agitating

Hundreds of angry protesters took to the streets in Badabher in the city’s outskirts and blocked the highway for more than three hours from 7am to 10am.

Commuters remain stranded in traffic jam for many hours owing to blockage of the roads. The supply of food commodities, including fruits, vegetables and ice were halted to Karak, Kohat and Bannu due to the traffic jam.



Similarly, residents of Nawa Kalay blocked Bara Road in protest.  Likewise, another major route of Charsadda Road was also blocked by protesters demanding that the government provide uninterrupted power supply during Ramazan.

Jehangir Khan, a resident of Charsadda Road, told The Express Tribune, “There is water shortage in mosques from the first day of Ramazan as the authorities have increased the power outage duration to over 15 hours.” He lamented, “Those paying bills should not bear the brunt of electricity thefts.”

Ultimatum

Meanwhile, Azhar Khan, member of the district council from Khazana union council told The Express Tribune, “We have given a deadline to the government to fix power issues till coming Friday.”  He added, “If the duration of load-shedding is not reduced, the residents will take to the streets, along with local representatives.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2016.