Power riots in Gujar Khan: Iesco offices set on fire
By Hamid Asghar
GUJAR KHAN, July 6: A mob protesting against loadshedding set on fire offices of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, damaged its two vehicles, injured a functionary and blocked the Grand Trunk Road for more than five hours on Thursday afternoon.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Raja Taifoor Akhtar, Mandra SHO Karim Khan Niazi and five other policemen were injured when protesters pelted them with stones. A head constable was reported to have suffered serious injuries.
About half a dozen people were injured when police used tear gas in an attempt to open the road.
Hundreds of people led by activists of the People’s Party Parliamentarians blocked the GT Road at about 2.45pm by setting empty cartons on fire. The protesters were chanting slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority and the government.
PPP MPA Raja Tariq Kiani addressed the protesters and condemned the loadshedding. Raja Mohammad Jawad of the Jamaat-i-Islami and local leader Raja Shaukat Hayat demanded immediate end to loadshedding.
Meanwhile, electricity supply to the area was suspended and thousands of people and local traders joined the protest.
DSP Taifoor Akhtar reached the spot and spoke to the protesters, asking them to disperse but the protest continued.
The protesters ransacked different Iesco offices, broke furniture and set the record on fire. A group of people set on fire the Iesco complaint office and offices of the city sub-divisional officer and executive engineer and burnt the revenue record and Wapda’s cables on the GT Road.
The office of the SDO (construction), a complaint office, a mosque, Wapda’s store and residential colony in the compound of the local grid station also came under attack.
Police called in reinforcements from Jatli, Mandra and other areas in the district.
According to an Iesco official, someone in the mob snatched a rifle from a security guard and injured Lineman Ghulam Mustafa who had tried to resist the protesters.
