BATKHELA, July 20: Women holding water pitchers and other pots blocked the main G.T. road in Batkhela Bazaar on Wednesday to protest against the inability of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to stop the prolonged loadshedding and rectify the problem of low voltage in their area. The women came out on the main road and marched towards the District Press Club Malakand to protest against the shortage of water due to frequent power outages.

Dozens of women and children from Gulshanabad, Sharifabad, Dirabad and other nearby localities took part in the protest against the inefficiency of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco). They alleged that the Pesco officials were not ready to replace the transformers that burned three months ago and as a result their areas were facing the undue power cuts and low voltage.

Later, local activists of political leaders also joined the rally. The protesters dispersed peacefully after assurance by the tehsil municipal officer and other officials that the Pesco would soon install new transformers to ensure power supply in the area.

“The anti-people government has forced us to come on to the streets for our demands,” a woman protester said and lamented that they (women) were on the road when there was the government of those who portrayed themselves to be the champions of Pakhtuns’ rights.

Other women said that people were dying of hunger; the prices of essentials were out of their reach while the rulers were looting the country’s resources. “If they can’t provide light (electricity) to the people then they have no right to choose lantern as their election symbol,” the women said while criticizing the Awami National Party leaders. They said that both the ruling PPP and ANP would miserably fail in the next general elections.

CHARSADDA: The people continued to suffer due to unscheduled loadshedding in the Charsadda district.

The continued power outages has crippled life in Charsadda, Tangi, Shabqadar tehsils of the district. The traders complained that they had been facing huge losses due to the outages. The children, women and patients are the worst sufferers as they were facing hot and humid conditions.

MOHMAND AGENCY: The people of Mohmand Agency also criticized the Pesco for resorting to up to 20 hours daily loadshedding. They said that on the hand the residents were facing the militancy and military operations, on the other they were deprived of basic facilities such as electricity and water.