TIMERGARA: Prolonged power outages sparked protests in Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies of Fata on Monday.

Residents of Talash and Samarbagh in Lower Dir came on the roads against Pesco for its failure to ensure smooth power supply. Hundreds of residents blocked Timergara-Chakdara Road at Talash Bazaar and chanted slogans against the Pesco.

Addressing the charged mob, PTI former tehsil president Zakirullah, JUI-F’s Razaullah and others complained that they had less than five hours of electricity a day. They said the power supply from Talash express line feeder remained suspended for hours without any reason.

They threatened to block the main road again on Tuesday (today) if the authorities failed to ensure smooth power supply to residents of Talash.

The residents of Samarbagh blocked the area road against the excessive power loadshedding.

Addressing the power protesters, ANP, PTI and PPP leaders assailed Pesco and JI local leadership for the power outages. The protesters demanded of the Lower dir administration and high-ups of Pesco to ensure power supply to the areas of Jandol.

In Mohmand Agency, angry power protesters belonging to different villages of Kamali Haleemzai area staged a protest demonstration against the prolonged loadshedding.

The protesters blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur Road in Ghazi Baig area for some time. The protesters were chanting slogans against Tesco and local administration over unjustified distribution of power in the area.

They complained that Tesco was supplying electricity to steel and ice factories while general public was facing 22 hours of loadshedding.

They threatened that if the power supply was not restored within a week they would again block the Peshawar-Bajaur Road.

In Bajaur Agency, people held a protest demonstration against a prolonged power suspension hitting the region since May 12, and demanded restoration of power supply within two days.

Scores of residents, including political workers and traders, participated in the protest held at Inayat Kallay Bazaar. The protesters chanted slogans against the Tribal Electric Supply Company and the political administration over suspension of power supply.

They said Lovi Mamond, War Mamand and parts of Khar had been without power since May 12. They said suspension of electricity to the areas had caused numerous problems for the residents, particularly water shortage.

The protesters said they had contacted officials of Tesco on a number of occasions, demanding restoration of power supply, but to no avail.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2018