KARACHI, April 18: Irate residents of various localities across the city took to the streets on Wednesday and staged protest demonstrations against the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation for failing to provide uninterrupted power supply.

Police told Dawn that an outbreak of violence was reported in Old Golimar, Gulbahar, Liaquatabad, Orangi Town, and parts of Shah Faisal Colony. The Gulbahar police said demonstrators blocked vehicular traffic on Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road as a mark of protest against the authorities concerned. They later dispersed peacefully.

Observers say the power utility is threatening to create new records. While most citizens of Karachi have more or less reconciled themselves to at least a couple of hours of loadshedding daily, residents of DHA, Phase 5 streets off Khayaban-e-Badban say that over the past 24 hours they have braved at least 40 breaks, some a mere five minutes long. One resident complained that he bought a fridge-freezer and TV just a few months ago and now due to the power interruptions the appliances are making strange noises.

Electricity consumers from various localities and commercial centres said that as the mercury went up, the number of power suspensions registered a sharp increase. They added that many a time a power interruption lasted for seven to eleven hours.

Reports of prolonged power breakdowns were received from DHA Phase-1, Phase-4, Phase-6 Khayaban-e-Badar, Khayaban-e-Hilal, Zamzama, NeelumColony, Clifton Block-4, PECHS, Block-6, Orangi Town, Federal B Area Block 17, 20, Baghdadi, Banaras, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 4.

Vexed by prolonged power breakdowns, the Mutahida Majlis Amal has announced that it will hold protest demonstrations after Friday prayers in front of mosques. Members of the National Assembly Mohammad Hussain Mehnati and Laiq Ahmed Khan have said the government has failed to fulfil its commitments with the people.

MMA leaders criticized the Sindh governor for failing to keep his promise about finding a solution to power crisis. They said that long-drawn power breakdowns caused untold inconvenience to students, especially those taking matric exams these days.