Power outages: PTI postpones sit-ins in Swabi

SWABI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in Swabi have postponed sit-ins over power outages following successful negotiations with Pesco on Thursday.

According to insiders, officials from the power supply company held a six-hour-long meeting to negotiate with PTI leaders. It was attended by various PTI leaders, including Aqibullah, Haji Rangaiz Ahmad, Abdul Sattar, among others.

During the moot, Pesco officials assured PTI leaders their grievances will be addressed and prolonged power outages will be curbed. Furthermore, they insisted continuous power would be supplied to the residents of Swabi.

Pesco officials also guaranteed all transmission lines which were damaged in the district will be restored at the earliest. PTI said it would take to the streets if Pesco does not fulfil its promise.

Earlier this week, the district leadership had vehemently criticised the power company over unscheduled load-shedding and announced its decision to hold sit-ins on July 23. Residents of Swabi and Buner experienced prolonged power outages during Eid. Scores of transformers are in need of repair.



Last month, over 3,000 residents protested in Chota Lahor, Swabi over load-shedding during Ramazan. The demonstrations gradually took a violent turn when a large number of protesters burned down Wapda’s sub-divisional headquarters and the additional session judge’s office.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2015.