DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Residents, including scores of women, protested prolonged power outages in the Muryali area here on Thursday.

The protesters blocked the main road at Muryali Morr, suspending traffic.

They shouted slogans against Pesco, complaining about the prolonged, unscheduled outages in the hot weather.

The protesters said the suspension of electricity supply had made their lives miserable.

The residents demanded intervention by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for corrective measures.

KILLED: Police arrested a man for a murder outside the Judicial Complex here on Thursday.

They said Shaukat, a resident of Korai, was attacked by gunman Mohammad Yaqub of the same area as the former, who showed up at the complex to attend a court hearing.

They said the incident seemed to have taken place over personal enmity.

Meanwhile, the federal ombudsman regional office held an open kutcheri in Paharpur tehsil here on Thursday to address people’s complaints.

The residents showed up in large numbers with complaints against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company, Benazir Income Support Programme, National Database Registration Authority, National Highway Authority, and Chashma Right Bank Canal authorities.

Officers of the federal ombudsman regional office ordered corrective measures without delay.

They said they’re committed to resolving people’s issues, especially in far-flung areas, through open kutcheris.

The officers said the primary objective of the event was to provide people with direct access to government officials for resolution of their issues.

They said they wouldn’t tolerate any negligence or delay in the resolution of people’s grievances.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024