July 27, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 30, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

QUETTA, July 26: Representatives of farmers and political parties have urged the government to take notice of the 12-hour daily loadshedding and low voltage of electricity in Balochistan to save crops and orchards from destruction in the province.

Speaking at a seminar, organised by the Balochistan Zamindar Action Committee here on Wednesday, they termed it a conspiracy to disturb the situation in the province.

Syed Taj Agha, chairman of the action committee, presided over the function. Dr Hayee Baloch of the National Party, Habib Jalib Baloch of the Balochistan National Party-M, Nizamuddin Kakar of the Awami National Party, Nasibullah Bazai of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Maulana Abdul Haq Hashimi of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Dost Agha of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Rahim Kakar of the Anjuman-i-Tajran were among the speakers.

They said that earlier, Qesco blamed saboteurs for the situation but on request of farmers the alleged militants stopped attacking power pylons. However, they regretted, they were still not getting full supply of power.

They said the power fluctuation and low voltage had damaged power machines of tube-wells and as a result, standing crops were not getting required water, causing huge losses to agriculturists. They criticised Wapda for closing the Uch power house for repair in the hot weather.

DISTRICT RESTORED: A bench of the Balochistan High Court on Tuesday declared a provincial government notification to include the Lehri tehsil in the Sibi district discriminatory and unlawful and restored the old status of Sibi.

The division bench comprised Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani.

Petitioner Fateh Khan Khajak said when the district government system was introduced, the Balochistan government had changed limitations of three districts and included Bolan district’s Lehri tehsil in the Sibi district.

Later, he said, the provincial government reviewed the decision and restored the previous status of two of the three districts. However, the Lehri tehsil remained a part of Sibi.