Three days on: Residents of Karak protest gas outages

Block Indus Highway at separate points, claim they are unfairly accused of theft.

KARAK: Residents from Takht-i-Nasrati tehsil, Karak, blocked Indus Highway at Ambiri Chowk area in protest against gas outages that have lasted three consecutive days.

Hundreds of demonstrators, led by chairman of local reconciliatory committee Malik Muhammad Nawaz and former tehsil Nazim Abdur Rauf, marched from Takht-i-Nasrati Road to Ambiri Chowk, subsequently blocking Indus Highway.

The road remained closed for around four hours, causing major congestion and problems for people travelling through the area.

Protesters complained that the area had received no gas since Tuesday, demanding authorities to restore supply, as resident were facing major difficulties.

Despite the major blockade, nobody from Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) came to appease disgruntled residents. They later dispersed, deciding they would continue their protest on Friday (today) if gas is not restored by 9am.

Gas outages that continue for days and subsequent protests are not uncommon in Karak, as residents have staged similar demonstrations in the recent past, including a shutter-down strike.

Meanwhile, other demonstrators from Tappi area of Karak also blocked Indus Highway at Tangori Chowk, protesting against the district administration for shutting down gas on suspicion of illegal connections. They believe their area is being targeted because of gas theft. Police arrested 11 elders from Tappi for resisting when authorities attempted to cut off illegal connection. Residents maintain that they are compelled to use illegal connections, in the absence of legitimate gas supply in Tappi area.

Protesters warned authorities not to conduct operations in their area, saying such action would not be tolerated.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2014.