PESHAWAR: Protesters on Wednesday blocked two major roads here to press for their demands, causing several hours’ long traffic snarls in the provincial capital.

A traffic police official told Dawn that residents of Tehkal area blocked the Peshawar cantonment-bound lane of the University Road near the University Town police station for more than an hour in protest against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for excessive loadshedding. He said that there were about 100 to 150 protesters, who blocked the road. The protesters later dispersed peacefully.

On the other hand, residents of Sarband area on the outskirts of the city also blocked both lanes of the Ring Road at the Pishtakhara Chowk.

The traffic police said that the protesters were demonstrating against the delay in the construction of a road in the area, which the contractor had left filled with potholes. He said that the protesters kept the road closed for more than two hours, and dispersed after talks with officials of the district administration.

Closure of two major arteries of the provincial capital caused immense pain to the motorists, who remained stuck in traffic for several hours.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2023