SWABI: An assistant commissioner received minor injuries when angry power protesters pelted stones on officials in Chota Lahor tehsil here on Wednesday.Later, seven protesters were also injured when police fired in the air and used batons to disperse them.

People of Manki village, including women and children, blocked the Swabi-Jehangira road soon after the morning prayers, suspending all kind of vehicular traffic for over seven hours to protest excessive and unscheduled loadshedding. The protesters also held a sit-in on the road, causing hardships to the commuters in the scorching heat.

District naib nazim Asar Khan along with Assistant Commissioner, Chota Lahor, Sameeullah, and Pesco executive engineer went to the protesters to ask them disperse, but they started pelting stones on the officials.

As a result of pelting of stones, Mr Sameeullah got minor injuries, but other officials remained safe, district police officer Javid Iqbal told reporters.

According to protesters, eight of them were also injured when they started running around after police opened fire in the air.

Mr Iqbal said as the protesters starting pelting stones on the officials and surrounded them, the law enforcement personnel opened fire to disperse the crowd and take the officials to safety. However, the protesters continued blocking the road and even set up tents there, threatening they won’t leave the road until the unscheduled loadshedding and low voltage were done away with.

Later, ANP leader Amjad Khan and other leaders held talks with the protesters, after which they reopened the road.

Police sources said 10 protesters had been arrested. However, district nazim Ameer Rehman said the arrested protesters had been released.

MAN KILLED: A man allegedly shot dead his servant at his hujra in Ismaila village on Wednesday.

Registering an FIR, wife of the deceased, Taj Wali, said her husband was working in the hujra of Saiful Islam, who opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.

Mr Islam is brother of Senator Mohammad Ali Saif. Police have registered FIR and begun investigations.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2016