MARDAN/GHALANAI: The residents of different areas in Mardan district and Mohmand Agency took to streets on Monday to protest what they called unscheduled and prolonged power loadshedding.

In Mardan, two separate rallies were carried out at Bacha Khan Chowk and outside the office of superintendent engineer. Scores of people attended the rallies.

PTI lawmaker Zahid Khan Durani was leading the protest demonstration at Bacha Khan Chowk that was attended by councillors and workers of different political parties.

The demonstration outside the of office superintendent engineer was led by former federal minister and PML-N leader Nawabzada Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti. The protest was attended by a large number of ANP workers and residents of the area.

The protesters said that 16 to 18 hours power loadshedding was observed in Mardan district. They set two days deadline for the government to end unscheduled loadshedding in the district.

The protesters dispersed peacefully when Superintendent Engineer Abdullah Shah held talks with their leaders and assured them of resolving the problem within two days.

In Mohmand Agency, protesting tribal elders, led by Malik Haji Noor Rehman, demanded of the authorities to end prolonged power loadshedding.

They said that Tesco had adopted stepmother attitude with tribesmen as 22 hours loadshedding was being carried out in the area. They termed unjust.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Tribal Electric Supply Company and demanded to end power outages in Khwezai area.

Addressing the protesters, Malik Haji Noor Rehman said that loadshedding had made it difficult for them to stay in their houses. He said that children and women were suffering more owing to unscheduled loadshedding.

The protesters said that political administration and Tesco authorities failed to mitigate miseries of tribal people. They threatened to storm the local office of Wapda if authorities failed to end power outages within a week.

They demanded of the government to resume power supply to Halki Gndawo area of Ekkaghund tehsil.

Zabit Khan, a local tribesman, said that cables and pylons were installed four years ago but electricity was not supplied to the area.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2016