PESHAWAR, Sept 16: Paramilitary troops were called in to control a violent mob of Pishtakhara residents in Peshawar’s suburbs, after their protest against Wapda’s loadshedding ended up in the killing of a local Nazim.

Local residents and policemen fought pitched battles and exchanged heavy fire, bringing injuries to five policemen and six locals.

The clashes occurred following the killing of a young local Nazim, Fayyaz Khalil, who was leading a protest rally against frequent power shutdowns by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

“There was a strong protest against the Wapda for the massive loadshedding in the area for the last two months,” said Hidayat Noor, an eyewitness and resident of Pishtakhara Payan.

He told Dawn that the protests began at 7.30am after an overnight decision by the local elders.

“It was a peaceful protest against the power supply authorities by the residents, but they turned violent when the police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse them,” he said.

Later, the police fired at the local Nazim, Fayyaz Khalil, “without any provocation, killing him instantly,” he alleged.

The Pishtakhara residents, in retaliation, also pelted the police with stones, burnt a cop’s motorcycle, a truck, two tongas, and impounded a dozen cars parked at the police station.

“The Wapda authorities are playing hide-and-seek with the area residents. They provide power supply in the night but disconnect it in the daytime, without any rhyme or reason,” said Hidayat.

“There is no water in Sarband Canal for the last couple of months due to massive power shutdowns, which harmed the standing crops,” said another eyewitness, Rehman Gul.

The angry mob fired six rocket launchers, partially damaging Pishtakhara police station, a police constable told Dawn.

He said five policemen were injured due to firing by the mob.

The locals claimed that six unidentified area residents were also injured.

The mob later set on fire three police posts at Daga and Ring Road and damaged streetlights, eyewitnesses said.