Power outage: No Easter respite for Christian residents of capital

Christian colony residents without power since November.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

Fear and power cuts put a damper on Easter festivities for the Christian residents of a slum in the heart of the capital.

Over 500 Christian residents of 100 Quarters the slum in F-6/2 marked Easter without any respite in continuous power outages that they have been facing for the past six months after the Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) severed the only electricity connection in the area.

The authorities failed to provide any relief to the Christian residents even on a day of profound religious significance to them.

The residents thronged parks on Sunday to celebrate Easter instead of staying at homes, which are without electricity since November last year.“Let’s make the most of natural light. It’s so dark in our alleys and even darker in our homes to be festive,” said Waqas Masih, a resident.

Since the neighbourhood was provided an electricity transformer in 2005, all the houses were hooked to a single meter. A local committee used to collect electricity bills from each household on the basis of estimated month consumption but disputes arose over time, with some residents complaining they were paying more than their usage. Locals say they tried to get regular meters for each house, but they were too expensive. Due to incessant disputes among residents over their bills, some households stopped paying altogether, and on November 13, Iesco disconnected power.

To top it off, sans any gas connections, residents rely on firewood and LPG cylinders for cooking and heating.

Christians attend a service marking Easter at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Rawalpindi (R) while a housewife cooks using a gas cylinder in F-6/2, Islamabad. PHOTOS: AFP/HUMA CHOUDHARY

“We cannot turn on our lights leave alone decorating our homes for the festival,” said Shazia, another resident.

While the occasion was spent in the dark for most, it was darker for Javaid who has lost almost all of his belongings in an accident that burnt his house.

Almost a month ago, Javaid’s children were left unattended as they completed their homework. A candle toppled over on a notebook, the fire spread and engulfed the entire house. The two-room house was gutted in the fire. Javaid has now moved to the house next door starting afresh with his wife, who is handicapped due to polio, and two children. Javaid says that the colony’s darkness has made life difficult for people to live there.

As the new house and the rent have added to financial burden on Javaid, he and other residents keep their doors open for sunlight.

As the sun set, some residents preferred staying outdoors instead of returning to their homes. “Here outside, we can at least sea each other smile,” said Rukhsana, a resident.

Security arrangements

Overall, the community celebrated Easter with simplicity amid thigh security.

Though most were satisfied with the security arrangements, a sense of fear prevailed among the community. No torch bearing rallies could be organised due to security threats. People independently reached churches to take part in religious ceremonies.

Rawalpindi Presbyterian Church moderator Dr Samuel Titus said that the rituals were celebrated with both sorrow and joy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2015.