Carrying stones and sticks, PTI workers chanted slogans against the government and Wapda officials.. PHOTO: FILE
Residents of Sari Bhalol and Sazodin Kallay blocked the road over power outages when the chief minister (CM) was travelling towards Swat on Sunday. This led to prompt action by CM Pervez Khattak who ordered the transfer of eight Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) officials.
In a protest led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Iftikhar Mashwani, hundreds of demonstrators went to block the road as soon as they found out CM Pervez Khattak would be travelling on Malakand Highway to go to Swat.
Carrying stones and sticks, they chanted slogans against the government and Wapda officials causing heavy contingents of police, including assistant commissioner Takht Bhai tehsil,to rush to the site.
Despite efforts to negotiate, the use of batons and tear gas, the MPA along with the protesters refused to clear the path and demanded the transfer of Wapda officials.
According to residents of the two areas, the transformer has been dysfunctional since the past week and has not been fixed despite repeated complaints.
“Power outages are minimal throughout the region but officials are neglecting Takht Bhai tehsil in terms of service and they will be responsible for any consequences,” said Mashwani.
After three hours, the protesters finally cleared the way when Khattak ordered transfer of XEN Mardan Division-II, Line Superintendent Anwar Khan and six linemen Shah Jahan, Asad, Nisar, Aziz Rahman, Fazal Qadir and Israr.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2013.
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How did he do it? WAPDA is Federally administered.