Out on the streets: PTI lawmakers lead protest against prolonged power outages

Lawmakers warned more protests would be held if relief was not provided to the locals from power outages.

HARIPUR/ SHANGLA:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from Haripur convened a protest rally on Shahrah-e-Tarbela, stopping traffic for over three hours, while a shutter-down strike was also observed for half of Saturday.

Led by PTI’s MNA Dr Raja Amir Zaman and MPA Faisal Zaman, traders, lawyers and residents from different villages of Ghazi tehsil marched through the bazaar, chanting slogans against the federal government and the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) over prolonged power outages.

Speaking to demonstrators, MNA Dr Amir said people of Haripur district have sacrificed fertile land and graves of their ancestors for Tarbela and Khanpur dams, but Wapda has failed to fulfil the commitment it made despite getting funds from the World Bank. Dr Amir added Wapda had forgotten the residents of this district, exposing them to long hours of load-shedding.

He also criticised the federal government for the price hike – especially of electricity and fuel – during the last four months. This, he said, had compounded the miseries of the people.

“Policies of the federal government are creating a sense of alienation among the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan,” said PTI MPA Faisal Zaman while addressing the gathering.

The lawmakers warned more protests would be held in front of the Parliament House if relief was not provided to the locals from power outages.

Protesters dispersed after Tarbela dam project’s general manager reached the site and assured them of conveying their demands to the Wapda chairman. “The Tarbela power house was supposed to transmit electricity to the main distribution system, so it is not in our hands to change the schedule of load-shedding,” he urged.

Meanwhile, a rally was also convened against load-shedding in Besham tehsil of Shangla where residents blocked the Karakoram Highway.

PTI’s local leader, Kifayatullah, came out on the highway along with traders at around 11:30am and marched through the bazaar.

Addressing enraged protesters, Kifayatullah said Darya Khan Khwar Dam was built in Shangla, but was only providing electricity to Islamabad while the locals suffered.

“23 hours of load-shedding is being carried out on a routine basis. This has destroyed businesses and agricultural activities in the district,” he said, adding generators had also stopped working now.

The protesters also threatened to surround the Wapda office in Besham if the power crisis was not resolved within two days. Later, SHO Sher Hassan visited the protesters and promised to address their grievances.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2013.