MANSEHRA: The prolonged and unscheduled loadshedding in upper parts of Hazara division forced the people to pour onto the roads in Mansehra, Shinkiari and Torghar districts on Sunday.
The angry protesters set tyres on fire in Mohallah Channia blocking the Mansehra-Abbottabad Road to vehicular traffic for over an hour. The protesters denounced the Peshawar Electric Supply Comply for failure to supply the electricity to consumers during the night.
“Local lawmakers have been enjoying perks and privileges but don’t make efforts to address the issues facing their voters,” Adnan Khan, a protester, lambasted.
He said the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N should step down as it had failed to keep its word to address the issue of loadshedding within three months of coming into the government.
The people in Torghar also demonstrated against prolonged and unscheduled loadshedding in the district.
Protesters block Mansehra-Abbottabad Road for over an hour
They gathered at Dormera area and raised slogans against Pesco. “We want uninterrupted electricity supply and government should address this important issue,” Yousuf Khan, the ANP’s district general secretary, said on the occasion.
He said the federal government had failed to address core issues facing the people.
“Our MNA Mohammad Safdar is the son-in-law of the prime minister but he failed miserably to provide basic amenities of life to his constituents,” said Mr Khan. He said if the issue of loadshedding was not addressed his party would widen the scope of protests to other parts of Hazara division.
ROADS IN BAD SHAPE: Members of various union councils of Oghi tehsil have demanded of the provincial government to take action against the mining companies for destroying their roads.
“The remote parts of Oghi have treasures of mines and precious stones but companies involved in excavation of these treasures are using heavy trucks to transport the mines destroying roads in the entire tehsil,” Tahir Hussain Shah, a district councillor, told reporters on Sunday.
He said Oghi-Mansehra, Darband-Oghi, Shungli-Bandi and Sheragar-Darband roads had been destroyed owing to plying of trucks loaded with granite and other mines extracted from Shergar, Shungli Bandi and Karori union councils.
“We have already taken up this issue with the district administration as heavy machinery brought to the area has destroyed the roads,” Mr Shah said, adding the provincial government was not paying heed to restrict such an activity.
“Many people have lost their lives in accidents due to dilapidated condition of the roads,” said the councillor.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2016
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