Prolonged load-shedding: Protesters block road connecting Thatta with other districts

The protest, in which the participants marched for around three kilometres, was led by traders and political groups

HYDERABAD: Protests against load-shedding have erupted in Thatta with the arrival of the summer. The bypass road connecting the district with Karachi, Hyderabad and Badin was blocked on Wednesday for several hours due to a protest. Enraged protesters also damaged the windows of vehicles parked at the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company's (Hesco) local office.

The protest, in which the participants marched for around three kilometres, was led by local traders and political groups.

Haji Anees Akhtar Memon, a traders' representative, claimed that residents of Thatta were suffering power suspension of up to 16 hours. "Not only have our businesses been affected, but we also don't have water at our homes and mosques [due to load-shedding]," he said while talking to the local media.



The protesting traders also blamed Hesco official in Thatta Sattar Channa for misbehaving with them whenever they lodged complaints or inquired about power outages. They demanded that Channa be replaced by an officer who is responsive to the consumers's complaints.

Local leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party also participated in the protest besides other political parties.

The protesters dispersed after Deputy Commissioner Mirza Nasir Beg assured them that he would soon arrange a meeting with Hesco officials to register their complaints.