PAT to launch protest drive against load-shedding

Abbasi says govt most incompetent in history of nation

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) central president Raheeq Ahmed Abbasi on Wednesday said the disadvantaged were being punished by the rulers in the form of prolonged spells of unscheduled electricity load-shedding.

Abbasi made the remarks at a meeting of the party’s central working committee. He said labourers, traders, shopkeepers and consumers had been screaming about being meted out the worst kind of punishment by the ruling party. Abbasi said increased water scarcity in the sweltering summer months had accompanied the “gift” of load-shedding.

He said those in office had not been paying attention to the formidable problem and were reposing in their air-conditioned residences and offices. Abbasi said the government was the most incompetent in the history of the nation. He said it had focussed its attention on executing showpiece projects and had forgotten the pledge it had taken to overcome the energy crisis in six months after coming into power.  Abbasi said over two years had passed since the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came to power but the energy crisis remained exactly where it was several years ago.

The PAT central president said the government had failed even to curb load-shedding at sehri and iftar times. He said those in power had deceived the people in the run-up to the May 2013 general elections and now they had been compelled to take to the streets to register their protest against the “inhumane” conduct of the ruling party.

Those present at the meeting decided to launch a nationwide anti-load-shedding protest campaign. It was decided that demonstrations and rallies will be organised near press clubs in all major cities across Pakistan in this regard. All PAT district presidents were directed to commence preparations for organising the protests on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.