KHYBER: Residents of Landi Kotal laid a siege to the local grid station on Wednesday as the authorities refused to provide them with the promised six hours of electric supply.

Holding black flags and chanting slogans against Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company, the enraged protesters, about 100 in number, barged into the grid station and suspended power supply to the entire tehsil along with Torkham border.

While remaining peaceful and not wrangling with the grid station staff, the protesters made it clear they would not vacate the premises until they were given firm assurance about supply of promised six hours of electricity. The siege continued till filing of the report as grid staff refused to give any assurance in the absence of responsible Tesco officials.

Meanwhile, prisoners in the congested Bara sub-jail also complained about suffocating situation due to excessive loadshedding.

The prisoners, some 200 in number, through their relatives communicated to the mediapersons that a meter was installed at the sub-jail and the monthly bills were regularly deposited, but even then they were subjected to excessive loadshedding.

They said some inmates also fainted due to suffocation. In Jamrud, residents said power supply was disconnected the other day as a windstorm struck the region, adversely affecting life in Ali Masjid, Rikiyalai, Shahgai, Ghundi and the surrounding localities.

Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen killed a taxi driver in Sultankhel area of Landi Kotal on Wednesday. Police said Nazeerullah, a resident of Nakikhel, was busy shopping in a market when unknown armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at him. They said Nazeerullah died while being shifted to hospital.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2024