SAHIWAL: Hundreds of residents of Basher Colony and 134/9-L, 135/9-L and 135A/9-L blocked Multan Road on Friday for two hours against, what they say, 22-hour unscheduled loadshedding.

Protesters said unscheduled loadshedding had been inflicted for the last two weeks.

“Electricity supply is restored for 10 to 15 minutes after every two hours,” said Waqar, of 134/9-L.

Ghala Mandi police arrived at the scene followed by Mepco officials. They negotiated with protesters and assured them that their problem would be addressed.

ACTIVITIES: The PML-N will celebrate days for lawyers, traders, minorities, women and martyrs on Aug 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 while the district government announced a karate competition, a marathon race and T20 cricket match as part of Azadi Festival in the district.

District Sports Officer Chaudhry Zaheer said other sport matches would be held from August 13 to 24. The Sahiwal Art Council has planned a mushaira, a singing competition and a folk dance competition besides a play for children, according to Riaz Hnadani, resident director of the art council.

Dr Khalid Farooq, principal of the Government Post-Graduate College, said 20,000 students would organize a march on Aug 14. He said the college would open on Aug 10.

The Sahiwal Tehsil Administration has installed 70 billboards and hundreds of steamers.

On the other hand, police have arrested 35 activists of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Thursday and Friday, according to Dr Iqbal, PAT coordinator. District Police Officer Syed Khurram said 30 activists had been arrested and sent to the Central Jail of Sahiwal.

PML-Q’s Haq Nawaz Sagla and Nouman Langriyal said 1,000 people from Sahiwal would join the Inqalab March.

Mr Langriyal said the march was not against democracy but the PML-N. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Rai Hasan Nawaz said he had arranged more than 50 workers’ meeting for the Azadi March.

The PTI also organised a motorcycle rally.

Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014