SWABI, Sept 1: The residents of Manki blocked the Swabi-Jehangira Road for traffic, while the people of Mian Dheri staged a protest demonstration against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) for its act of resorting to unscheduled and frequent loadshedding in their areas.

The residents of Manki gathered at the Manki bus stop and blocked the road for all kind of traffic for five hours. The people, who wanted to go to Peshawar or some other cities, either abandoned their plan or travelled through Swabi-Mardan road.

However, special arrangements had been made to allow vehicles carrying patients to pass the road.

The procession was led by NAPP district president Prof Munawar and Nazim of Manki Union Council Mohammad Ayaz. The protesters alleged that they had received inflated electricity bills and whenever they approached the Pesco officials they dodged them on one pretext or another.

The Mian Dheri residents reached the Swabi Adda in a procession, chanting slogans against the Pesco officials. They said that a few days back a tree had fallen on the main supply line due to a storm and the electricity supply was disrupted but the Pesco did not restore the supply despite being approached several times. They said that they would continue to protest against the apathy of the Pesco staff.