TIMERGARA: The workers of ruling Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf here on Monday staged a protest rally at Munda Bazaar against Pesco authorities for their failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the area.

The protesters gathered in the bazaar despite heavy rain and blocked the road for more than an hour. They also chanted slogans against the Pesco authorities. The rally was addressed by Hanif Khan, Imran Khan, Khan Bacha and others.

They said that upper parts of Jandol had been supplied with electricity turn by turn for the last 10 years. They said that work on Samar Bagh Express feeder was started during the previous government but despite lapse of several years the project was yet to be completed.

They said that construction of Jandol grid station was approved by the government but work on it was not started so far. They threatened to extend their protest if smooth power supply was not ensured to the consumers and work on the feeder was not completed within a month.

Block roads and threaten to continue protest if supply of electricity is not restored

PTI MNA Bashir Khan told local journalists that Pesco was unnecessarily and deliberately delaying the approved projects. He said that Pesco was creating problems for elected representatives in Dir.

Meanwhile, people blocked Mohmand-Bajaur Road in Haleemzai tehsil of Mohmand tribal district on Monday to protest prolonged power loadshedding in the area.

The protesters complained that the area had been without electricity for the last five days that created numerous problems including shortage of drinking water. They also chanted slogans against Wapda. They threatened to extend their protest to the entire tribal district.

The people of Bajaur tribal district also held a protest against the prolonged power outages and blocked the main Khar-Mamond Road to traffic for several hours.

People from all walks of life, including workers of different parties, traders and transporters, participated in the rally held at Inayat Kallay Bazaar.

The protesters blocked the main Khar-Mamond Road by burning tyers and firewood. They chanted slogans against Tesco and district administration for suspension of power supply to several areas of the tribal district.

JI local leader Maulana Inamullah, JUI-F leader Imran Maher, Zakirullah, BakhtirAlam, Younas Khan, Khalid Khan, Mohammad Rahman, Farhad Raza and others addressed the protest.

They said that power supply to several areas of the district had been suspended for the last several months without any reason. They said that suspension of electricity had not only disturbed the routine life of the residents, but also caused shortage of drinking water in the region.

The speakers flayed local lawmakers for their silence over the issue. They threatened to hold more rallies if supply of electricity was not restored immediately.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020