MANSEHRA: Hundreds of people took to the streets in Oghi the other day to protest against inflated utility bills.

The protesters raised ‘go Nawaz go’ and ‘welcome Imran welcome’ slogans, and assailed the federal government for sending them exaggerated electricity bills.

The people, coming from every nook and corner of the tehsil, gathered at the Milan chowk and blocked the main road after setting tyres on fire. Commuters suffered a lot as road remained blocked for a few hours.

The protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of extra surcharges incorporated in the power bills. They said the government had failed to address the core issues faced by people, forcing them to commit suicides.

They said that Prime Minster Mian Nawaz Sharif had failed to address energy crisis and imposed unjust taxes on consumers, and asked him to step down and hand over power to PTI chief Imran Khan.

The power protesters said that Imran Khan had the potential to pull the country out of the crises.

The protesters reopened the road after Oghi assistant commissioner Shahrukh Khan and deputy superintendent of police Salman Khan assured them that the issue would be taken up with Pesco.

MARATHON RACE EVENT: Pakistan Scout Cadet College, Batrassi, organised the other day the annual marathon race among individual students and senior and junior houses.

The race started from Pakhla area at Mansehra-Balakot road and culminated at the college’s central gate, covering a distance of three kilometers.

In the individual competitions, Cadet Mohammad Arif clinched first position after covering the distance in nine minutes and 12 seconds. Cadet Saleemullah remained runner up, while Cadet Fahad Khan secured third spot.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2014