A woman committed suicide in Jahanian after electricity supply to her home was not restored despite paying the bill.
According to the husband of the deceased, Qasim, he had sold household items and taken a loan to pay the bill of Rs10,000 but the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) had not restored the supply that had been disconnected because of non-payment.
He said that there was no money for food in his home after paying the bill.
Hamna, a mother of four, was reportedly dejected about her children who had been going hungry for two days.
Qasim said that when he went home from work, he found that Hamna had consumed poison. She was rushed to the tehsil hospital, but her life could not be saved.
Meanwhile, countrywide protests continue against the soaring rise in electricity bills as citizens rallied and burnt them to vent their frustration.
In Lahore, infuriated demonstrators from various neighbourhoods -- Shahdara, Nawabpura, Rehmanpura, Raiwind Road and Green Town -- took to the streets to voice their outrage against the exorbitant rise in the power tariff and inclusion of excessive taxes in the electricity bills.
They vowed to withhold the payment of the bills until the government retracted the recent increase.
In Rehmanpura, residents staged a protest in front of the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco) office.
The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League announced the launch of a countrywide protest, adding that it had held demonstrations in Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot.
It warned the caretaker government that it would continue to stage protests until the interim set-up withdrew its decision to increase the power tariff and impose excessive taxes.
A similar scenario unfolded in Narowal, where a substantial crowd gathered for a protest.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2023.
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