SWABI, April 20: Residents of Manki and adjoining villages blocked the Swabi-Jehangira road on Friday in protest against continued loadshedding in the area.

The protesters gathered at the Manki bus stop and closed the road for an hour by erecting barricades on it.

They raised slogans against officials of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company and the government.

They said that Pesco had resorted to prolonged loadshedding to cover its line losses.

Manki union council nazim Asar Khan and naib nazim Mushtaq Hussian led the protesters.

They said that despite various appeals to Pesco officials, they had failed to take remedial measures.

The Pesco SDO held talks with the protesters and Chota Lahor DSP Mohammad Sharif also participated in the negotiations to end the protest.

The protesters were assured by the two officials that all-out efforts would be made to avoid loadshedding in the peak hours.

The protesters dispersed peacefully, but warned that if Pesco continued its previous practice, they would hold more protest demonstrations.