Load shedding: Protests in K-P, FATA against outages

Protesters carrying placards chanted slogans against the management of SNGPL and Wapda.

PESHAWAR/ MARDAN: A protest organised by the provincial peace jirga in Shergar, Mardan was attended by scores of people demonstrating against prolonged power outages and unavailability of water.

The protest was led by the jirga’s chairperson Syed Kamal Shah. Protesters carrying placards chanted slogans against the management of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

They also burnt tyres and blocked the main Malakand Road for three hours. Protesters said they faced 22 hours of power outages on a daily basis and lashed out against the provincial government saying it should step down if it cannot provide basic facilities. “We are facing an acute shortage of water and the administration has done nothing to address our problems,” said a protester.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2013.