No load-shedding for President, PM, judges and generals
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ISLAMABAD: In a startling disclosure before a Senate committee, the chief executive of Islamabad Electricity Supply Company on Monday said there was no load-shedding at the Presidency, Prime Minister House, Supreme Court, GHQ, headquarters of ISI, National Accountability Bureau and National Database and Registration Authority and the Judges Colony. The disclosure comes at a time when the country is facing worst load-shedding ranging from 12-20 hours a day.
Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) chief Yousuf Awan who was summoned by the Senate Standing Committee on Power to describe the reasons for load-shedding spilled the beans when the committee’s chairman, Senator Zahid Khan, asked him to name government offices which were exempt from load-shedding.
As temperatures across the country continue to rise over 40 degrees, the disclosure by the IESCO chief had drawn severe criticism from the Senate committee.
“I am utterly disgusted that a common man is facing up to 21 hours of load-shedding while the president, prime minister, generals and judges were facing no load-shedding even though they can afford to keep generators,” Khan said in his remarks.
Khan added that exemption should only be afforded to hospitals and centres managing healthcare.
He threatened to resign in case the practice was not interrupted and government offices and residences were not treated as the rest of the country.
The committee chairman directed the officials to bring an end to the discrimination within 24 hours and report back to the committee on their progress.
The committee also summoned the minister and secretary for water and power to explain why government offices and residences of government functionaries were not undergoing load-shedding as the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, protests against excessive load-shedding in Faisalabad and Khanewal continued.
The country is facing a shortfall of over 4,500 megawatts of power resulting in unprecedented load-shedding. Since taking over, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to address the concerns on power crisis and has dubbed the issue as one to be dealt with as a matter of priority. The first cabinet meeting of the new government is also taking place to take stock of the energy crisis.
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Comments (92) Closed
Jun 10, 2013 12:44pm
I hope these officials will also be asked to pay for fuel charges from their own pockets in case they use generators during load shedding.
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Jun 10, 2013 12:45pm
Everyone is doing their part in destroying this country, from the army to judiciary to lawyers to politicians to everyone. God save Pakistan.
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Jun 10, 2013 12:54pm
nice step ....
justice can solve the problems that our contry is facing
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Jun 10, 2013 12:54pm
The gentlemen mentioned in the headlines are only for us to Worship as Holy Cows. This is what we are and shall Inshallah remain the same because we deserve and asked for this in our constitution.
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Jun 10, 2013 01:20pm
No need to say anything else as "Qam sorahi hay" we are living in a "Corrupt Kingdom"
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Jun 10, 2013 01:27pm
Nothing unusual, these places are of strategic importance (may be judges houses are not) they can't be deprived of electricity
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Jun 10, 2013 01:38pm
Elections have changed nothing? La plus
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Jun 10, 2013 01:50pm
And what about Bahria Town which has enjoyed uninterrupted supply all along. Is it not part of Pakistan. Will the authorities explain this distortion or the the tycoon is too powerful for IESCO/Wapda or "uss nay file ko pahya lagaya hua hai".Senate Comitte should look into it.
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Jun 10, 2013 01:50pm
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Jun 10, 2013 01:51pm
And what about Bahria Town which has always enjoyed uninterrupted power supply all along and this fact alone is a big marketing plus. Is the tycoon too powerful for the bosses in IESCO/Wapda or "uss nay file ko pahya lagaya hua hai" Senate Committe should also look into it. Is Bahria Town not a part of Pakistan.
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Jun 10, 2013 02:12pm
PEPCO calls it "Load Sharing" instead of "Load Shedding". So it should be shared across the board. Only health services should be exempted. If electricity is compulsory at important government departments, then alternate ways like Solar power etc should be used.
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Jun 10, 2013 02:12pm
i think it is impossible bcoz we listen that from last five 5 years.
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Jun 10, 2013 02:41pm
Nothing gonna change ... hope less
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Jun 10, 2013 02:48pm
Nothing will happen to these elite class folks and the common awam will face the music as has been the case always!
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Jun 10, 2013 03:09pm
sir, with due respect i may further add. these dignitries , senior officials and judges take office files at home. when electricity bill comessay rs 10.000 they pay rs 500 and 9500 is paid from public fundas they do govt job at home. you may please cross cheque if i am wrong
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Jun 10, 2013 03:09pm
They should not be allowed any airconditioning unless entertaining guests and that too should be paid for by them. Each time the area has loadshedding or power cut for whatever reason they should also lose power for 10min just to remind them of the pain people are passing through. Unfortunate as it may be they are important positions and do need electricity for continuation of work. I guess NADRA and Intelligence set up very very specifically does need continuation of power. But they should remember the power which puts them in the office.
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Jun 10, 2013 03:22pm
Uninterrupted electricity and that to Free of Charge! Well Done to Pakistani Awam who voted for them
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Jun 10, 2013 03:22pm
@fida sayani:
The poor voters will pay.
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Jun 10, 2013 03:25pm
@Israr Khan IsmailZai:
Dont forget JOURNALISTS........who diligently reports all these but behind the door serve THEIR interests.........
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Jun 10, 2013 03:31pm
The real reason behind not ending energy crisis... All these men do not suffer energy crisis, so how do you think will they tackle or end it ????
Jis ko moqa mil ra hay woh khata ra hay .. awam mar rai hai aur inko abhi bhi kursi se fursat nai mil rai ...
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Jun 10, 2013 03:31pm
President should live in Lyari, so that light comes to Lyari
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Jun 10, 2013 03:34pm
@mansur:
I blieve that bahria town provide its own electricity in absence of it from Wapda. Infact there are other housing schemes in lahore that are going to build their own grid stations. The tentants are charged for this provision.
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Jun 10, 2013 03:54pm
@Muhammad usman tahir:
Judget can only give verdict and nothing happens
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Jun 10, 2013 03:54pm
Judget can only pass verdit and nothing happens. Judget are helpless
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Jun 10, 2013 04:01pm
Well, power shortages are also not felt by politicians (I would like to find out how do residents of Raiwind and 70 Clifton deal with power failures!!). The fact is that politicians, people in power and people with money have no idea what an average citizen of Pakistan has to go through on a day to day basis and sadly, these people with power and money will never know. A reality 90% of Pakistanis are too familiar with.
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Jun 10, 2013 04:05pm
what's the filter policy by dawn newspaper for publishing comments here. Dawn will publish anything ( be it senseless or unreadable / irrelevant to the topic ) which is very short. come on guys we are fighting with nemesis of load-shedding, drone attacks, corruption and now we need to fight to spill our frustration published.
if load-shedding start happening in next 24 hours in the mentioned institutes, we will appreciate Senate for first bold step. but how this Senate will get it signed by autonomous President to implement on presidency.
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Jun 10, 2013 04:23pm
@fida sayani:
Are you suggesting that the prime minister, president, army generals CANNOT afford petrol for their generators? LOL I really hope that was an attempt at satire!!
And even if they cannot, the point is that hospitals and healthcare should be given exemption, not 'important men and women'. They are there to serve the people!
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Jun 10, 2013 04:26pm
@fida sayani:
Are you suggesting that the prime minister, president, army generals CANNOT afford petrol for their generators? LOL I really hope that was an attempt at satire!!
And even if they cannot, the point is that hospitals and healthcare should be given exemption, not 'important men and women'. They are there to serve the people!
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Jun 10, 2013 04:28pm
At least the lion has roared, and the public has heard words criticizing the inequality. Change has to come, sooner or later, calmly or harshly, but come it must.
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Jun 10, 2013 04:37pm
Is this the change we were promised for?
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Jun 10, 2013 04:37pm
Change must come!
General people's will take the matter into there own hands, Pakistan is not immune to uprising, out of this will come a leader who will truly look after the peoples of Pakistan and well being of Pakistan, anyone who dare to sell out Pakistan will face the same music as Hosni Mobarak of Egypt, and i kid you not corupt leaders of every countries are well aware of this. Look carefully changes are taking place in front of your eyes, so folks open your eyes and ears, and long live Pakistan.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:04pm
This is shame to protest and burn own properties having the facts in front, but it is more shame to President office, PM house and judges colony to get electricity when every one is in load shedding. Our judges should stay in dark with nation.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:09pm
@mansur:
Dear Mansur I am not a big fan of Riaz Malik or any of his cronies however the reason of uninterrupted power supply in bahria town is they have their own grid station and electricity supply they dont depend on wapda or iesco...there is a reason Bahria town is internationally recognized.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:13pm
The rules must feel the pain of the common man before they will act!
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Jun 10, 2013 05:27pm
Why is this a 'startling disclosure'?! It would have been one had it been otherwise.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:30pm
I cant believe Pakistanis voted Mr. Sharif into office and expect things to somehow "change". This is what him and the president have always done for Pakistan, why does this now come as a surprise? Lets not blame them shall we? The blame lies squarely with the public that chose to have them in the office. A serpent will be a serpent, will be a serpent. You can't change that. People that laughed at the 'tsunami' not materializing should now beat the heat by taking a well deserved 'muslim shower'.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:31pm
It's an extraordinary step by the Senate committee and makes it even more remarkable that the Chairman was not sweating as he threatened to resign!
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Jun 10, 2013 05:36pm
Government should utilize WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER including new hydro projects...please!
"Nature Teaches Beasts its Friends" -Coriolanus (William Shakespeare)
Thank You!
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Jun 10, 2013 05:38pm
To The Dawn Editors: The picture depicts people protesting in winter. Get your photographers out of the comfort of their A/C'd offices and atleast get a shot which speaks the truth.
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Jun 10, 2013 05:43pm
make our leaders pay as we are paying
if they succeed in evading it now then nature will take its course
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Jun 10, 2013 05:48pm
power out for hours today in our hospital , the condition of children in paeds unit was miserable due to the boiling heat , if this is the state of KTH, one of the biggest hospitals in Peshawar one can only imagine whats happening in peripheries.
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Jun 10, 2013 06:01pm
Pathetic isn't it? When the top people of the country start getting the same treatment as the common person with regards to load shedding , then there will be hope for an early end to load shedding. The same is the case with all other government services...these guys get subsidized or free services and hardly pay any taxes which is a double insult on the common person.
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Jun 10, 2013 06:34pm
It is not only President, the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Judges and Generals who enjoy uninterrupted electricity but there are many other many others beneficiaries whose houses lay on the same feeders that supply electricity to the prized people. In late 70's CJ Hamood ur Rehaman used to live on the Harley Street, Rawalpindi and luckily my house and few others lay on the same feeder supplying electricity to his house. We enjoyed uninterrupted electricity through out the year.
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Jun 10, 2013 06:48pm
These are the people who will be deciding the destiny of Pakistan. If they had an iota of shame in them they should have come forward and instructed electric supply corporations to be fair to all citizens. How do you expect this country to even progress when you have an elite class who enjoys all the benefits and the let the common man suffer. Pathetic.
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Jun 10, 2013 06:52pm
Lets hear people say 'long live nawaz sharif' now. It serves us right to elect corrupt people into office.
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Jun 10, 2013 06:53pm
@Nadeem :
Well observed sir.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:04pm
Before a ton of jazbaati, knee-jerk responses, do realize that for the government to function, power has to be provided. Its a matter of precedence. Before the consumers get power at home, the government will get it.
All over the world, the government functions get precedence when it comes to provision of utilities such as electricity and water.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:22pm
Pakistan needs a good way to collect electric bills. Pakistan problem is dishonesty. Try to be honest and pay your bill, I can assure that all your probelms will be disappear.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:38pm
Mr. Zahid Khan: May I remind you that 80 % of MNA and Senators do not pay their electric bills and power is never interrupted. Be real Mr. Senator.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:37pm
@Assad:
Not under circumstances that you have in Pakistan. Government is organized by the people for the people - is not a sacred cow. As a matter of fact, government is responsible for all this mess. If load shedding is applied equally, and the government functionaries suffer the same way as common people, government will be forced to do some thing about it. Assad, I am sorry to say, but your comment is disgusting and below human dignity.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:40pm
Senator Zahid Khan seems like a new born baby. What the hell are you doing in senate for years if you don't know who is not facing load-shedding. As a common man everyone knows government & security departments doesn't face load-shedding.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:47pm
@Syed Ahmed:
They did not eliminate you from the feeder, otherwise it will look too sharp contrast.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:51pm
@Nazim:
What do you mean by "nature will take care of them"? We made these laws, we take care of them.
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Jun 10, 2013 07:55pm
@Nadeem :
Don't forget, Dawn is a Pakistani news paper.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:00pm
@Ahmar Qureshi:
The power problem, and for that matter, all other problems are not going to get solved by slogans and rumors. Government has to have a plan and act on it. There must be open public forums to discuss those plans. Let these government functionaries and other experts come and explain to people. Don't let the government hide behind the curtain, make misleading statements, and do nothing.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:00pm
@Assad: In response to your jazbaati response:
For a country to function; its industries, schools, work places, hospitals need power first. Without it the country will be at a standstill and the Government can use their power to rule themselves. I am sure the judges colony does not require any more power than us poor tax paying lot.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:04pm
@Moon89:
But that is not a financially sound solution.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:09pm
@Moon89:
But how do they generate power and at what cost? How much it costs to the consumers?
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Jun 10, 2013 08:14pm
@Ali:
They are not just grids, they are power stations - correct?
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Jun 10, 2013 08:21pm
@farhan:
It is not free; it is at the expense of the tax payer.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:56pm
@Assad:
Agree with you about Government offices, but not the residencies of the Government.
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Jun 10, 2013 08:59pm
The media should keep a meticulous follow up on this major discrimination and keep Pakistan up to date
on this issue.
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Jun 10, 2013 10:25pm
At least get the picture right. Where in Pakistan do people wear sweaters and jackets in June?
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Jun 10, 2013 10:31pm
the chairman seems to be living in a fools paradise, by now sir you must have prepared you resignation. keep your words!!
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Jun 10, 2013 10:33pm
Government Residences should also be on the same load shedding schedule as a common person is facing. However other Government Offices; health centers and Hospitals should be exempted. But no Air conditioners in Government should be allowed.
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Jun 10, 2013 10:42pm
Why CJ has not yet taken a Sue Moto action on no loadshedding to judges colonies?
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Jun 10, 2013 10:48pm
I am surprised that they had to summon the chairman of IESCO to learn that the dignitaries and politicians are immune from load-shedding! LOL Whatta joke! Aside from the 'riches' of Pakistan, the poor people are to blame for shortage of power in the country as well. 'riches' are doing legal stealing of power where they don't pay the bills, or bill their offices for it, however, the 'poor' don't pay bills either and steal power by using 'kundas'. So, the question is ... who is paying for the power in the country? - only 'middle-class' people pay their bills to avoid disgrace, however, that doesn't solve the energy crisis. How to end the crisis? Everyone will have to part-take ... not just the riches, not just poor, not just the middle-class - EVERYONE! Avoid using high-powered devices such as A/Cs, etc when avoidable ... and save the energy for others. Will people do it? That's a question to be answered! In parallel, govt has to look for ways to add power into the grids by building dams, etc as well. Together Everyone Achieves More - TEAM - it is a team work.
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Jun 10, 2013 10:51pm
@anony:
lol nawaz chor!
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Jun 10, 2013 10:52pm
@humayun:
what lion roared ?
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Jun 10, 2013 11:02pm
The overwhelming majority of the Pak. citizens and tax payers should understand that they could only survive on the mercy of their elites. Even the dogs, cats, horses and other pets of President, Prime Ministers and other elites have the right to enjoy 7/24 comfort of AC and other facilities run by electricity, on the plight and sufferings of their non-privileged majority. Which they been enjoying since Musharraf's time till today. This will continue. Under the relation of Masters and slaves there is no right of protest. Hence do not waste your time and energy as you are not living under the governance of Syyedna Umar Bin Khattab (RA) nor of Syyedna Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA)?
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Jun 11, 2013 12:57am
@Assad:
mis-judgement on your narrow and one eyed study. you prove it, that govt gets electricity first and then nation is allowed to the benefit of electricity.....
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Jun 11, 2013 12:58am
Everyone should share this misery. The leaders can set an example by removing at least the ACs from their residences as well as paying their personal electricity bills.
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Jun 11, 2013 01:21am
This is what we call special *perks* for "cr
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Jun 11, 2013 01:38am
Hello, all the cry boys and girls, Where were you when the Mush govt did not install any power generation? Did you all comment about it then. It is silly whether President House or Prime minister House has load shedding or not. They should not. These are icons of State of Pakistan. Why not talk about the millions of people using Kundas. Plain stealing. If you cannot pay then do not use. Communism and socialism are extinct now. Wake up. Be real. Less cry babies. Face the fact. and tackle it.
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Jun 11, 2013 01:39am
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Jun 11, 2013 02:32am
In the US, if you dont pay your bills, your electricity is shut off. Problem solved.
In Pakistan this would mean that the federal and provincial governments (who are the biggest bill defaulters - and so this would include the President's House on down) would be shut down, along with all other bill defaulters. Bill payers would then get their electricity without any load shedding. Problem solved.
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Jun 11, 2013 03:01am
@kashif: change will come if and only if we look forward to it. No hopelessness. Why do we put everything on Gov ???
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Jun 11, 2013 03:48am
It is time that top officials start sweating with rest of the country.
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Jun 11, 2013 04:47am
It just means, others are just not human enough.
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Jun 11, 2013 04:51am
@nadeem dar:
Media, what media?
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Jun 11, 2013 06:07am
Discrimination , why ?
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Jun 11, 2013 07:14am
"Your society will pass through a period when cunning and artful intriguers will be favored by the Governments; when profligates will be considered well bred, well behaved and elegant elites of the society"; when just and honest persons will be considered as weaklings". A Saintly Saying.
Pakistan and its people have all along been victims of Cunning, Artful Intriguers and of course well bred, well behaved elegant elites of the society. Just go through the long list of the people exempted from Load Shedding! Who had the Competence and Jurisdiction to exercise such an Authority?
It would be foolishness to believe that people now holding the offices named above will bear the burden of load shedding! Government Office is "Help Yourself or Serve Yourself Project".
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Jun 11, 2013 09:31am
So, my Respected Senators who will pay for those Generators and Expensive Petrol and maintenance of those of-course Expensive Generators which I am sure will be bought at ten times then their actual price.
My Guess is the same people how are paying for your Two Bedroom Luxury rooms provided to All the Senators and MNA's.
Mujhe pai ek ihsaan kaaroo mujhe pai koi ihsaan naa kaaro.
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Jun 11, 2013 09:34am
Nawaz Sharif ( PML n ) acted friendly opposition for past 5 years. Now Zardari ( PPP ) will act as friendly opposition for next 5 years. Forget
about any change for better. Darkness will continue ; no light for years
to come. Managed Election was a great betrayal of the people of
Pakistan.
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Jun 11, 2013 11:17am
Dear Moon89
Grid stations dont generate power. They are only distribution systems which can regulate the supply.Bahria town doesnt have enough generation capacity of their own through their installed generators to make up for 12-16 hours load shedding( which the other poor Pakistanis endure) and provide uninterrupted power to a considerably large segment of consumers living in Bahria Town. Obviously BT is getting the extra power supply from the national grid illegally. Please correct me if I am wrong
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Jun 11, 2013 11:39am
Strange that so-called pubic SERVANTS are more equal than the PUBLIC - Democracy is indeed the best revernge from public!
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Jun 11, 2013 12:21pm
Judges must have first priority to have electricity. Prime Minister next. And then the President. But No general should have priority over the public. If they can't take the heat then they don't belong in the military.
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Jun 11, 2013 12:54pm
OMG - public servant above law and above human suffering in pakistan
the poor people who were fooled again are suffering again and will suffer for another 5 years until the next ppp govt comes up with another stunts and this will continue with each others turns with new stunts
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Jun 11, 2013 01:36pm
Enjoying your democracy :)
Aur vote do..
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Jun 11, 2013 01:53pm
Mr. Zahid Khan you may resign 100 times nothing will change. In which country are you living in? Be realistic. Such things will change only through bloody revolution and our nation is not yet readyfor that.
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Jun 12, 2013 11:16am
it is not new thing,these 4 pillars of pakistan are enjoying and the public is bearing and will bear this drama till the bloody revolution.
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Jun 12, 2013 12:14pm
Equal Loadshedding order by supreme court a while back but this chief justice is as political as rest of our leader-ship. I never heard about his son's case after a few days of uproar. Now he wants equal loadshedding in every area but not his own where he gets full electricity. Where is Nawaz shareef case gone chief justice? God curse you and your dhaku family CJ.
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