Energy crisis: Villagers protest power outages

PESCO officials claim electricity suspended due to non-payment of dues.

KARAK:

Residents of Algadi Shah Noorkhel and Musherzai villages of Karak protested against prolonged power cuts in their area on Friday.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) officials, however, claimed the suspension of electricity was a result of non-payment of dues.

Hundreds of people from both villages demonstrated outside the Pesco subdivision office, saying they have no electricity for the last five days. They chanted slogans against Pesco and appeared to be on the verge of turning violent but were contained through the timely intervention of police.

Karak police SHO said the protesters agreed to negotiate with Pesco officials and convened at the office of Assistant Commissioner of Karak Attaul Munam.

Several elders, Pesco Line Superintendent Tariq and AC Munam took part in the negotiations where elders accused Tariq of extorting money from CNG stations to provide continuous electricity. Tariq, however, denied the accusation and said power has been suspended due to non-payment of bills.

Later, AC Munam assured electricity supply would be resumed if consumers pay their bills by Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2014.