Power riot: MEPCO record burnt, office vandalised

FIR registered against nine named, 170 unidentified protesters.

MULTAN/ FAISALABAD:

Dozens of people vandalised a Multan Electricity Power Company office during a protest against power outages in Chichawatni on Saturday.

They damaged the buildings and burnt record as well as several motorcycles parked near the office.

Rescue 15 in charge Inspector Fayaz Bhatti said violence continued for over three hours. He said he had rushed to the scene with a few policemen but later called for additional force to control the protesters.

Talking to The Express Tribune, MEPCO Executive Engineer Rao Zulfiqar estimated the loss at around Rs2 million. He said particulars of more than 20,000 connections were burnt.

A security guard, the only official on duty on Saturday, identified nine people. Guard Muhammad Iqbal said the mob broke into the offices of the executive engineers (EXENs) and the sub-divisional officers (SDOs), burnt all record and vandalised the furniture. He said they later set on fire the motorcycles parked in front of the office.

Saddar Station House Officer Rana Ajmal said an FIR had been registered against nine nominated and over 170 unidentified men under Sections 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 148 and 149 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Some of the protesters told the Tribune that power was supplied to Sahiwal Division for only two hours a day. They said in some rural areas electricity was available for only half an hour a day.

In another protest in Chichawatni, dozens of people blocked the National Highway for over four hours. They arranged a mock funeral of the federal government and buried an effigy to protest long hours of power outages.

Traffic between Multan and Lahore remained suspended during the demonstration.

Demonstrations were also arranged in several other cities of the province against power outages. In Faisalabad, at least three rallies were arranged by traders’ associations. Dozens of traders staged a sit-in on Katchery Bazaar Chowk in Chiniot, blocking the road for traffic.

The protesters, carrying sticks and batons, later paraded through Furniture Market, Rail Bazaar and Sargodha Raod to reach Khatme Nabuwwat Chowk where they demonstrated against the government for excessive power outages.

Sheikh Akram, one of the protestors, said power was supplied to Chiniot for no more than four hours a day.

He said businesses in the city were suffering severe losses due to the power crisis. “Most industrial units have shut down,” he said.

Faisalabad-Jaranwala Road was blocked in another protest by group of workers left without jobs due to the closure of power looms where they were employed. Some of the workers danced to the beat of drums to register their protest.

Scores of people gathered at Kamalia Road and staged a protest demonstration.

Protests were also reported from Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala and Sargodha.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2012.