TANK/KHAR: The enraged protesters ransacked Pesco office and blocked road against unscheduled power loadshedding in Tank district on Monday.

The protest was held on the call of Tank Welfare Society, an amalgamation of political and religious parties, trade unions, lawyers association and civil society organisations.

The rally was led by Tank Welfare Society president Pir Saleem Shah, private schools association president Pir Shabir Shah, Zaman Bittni, Mullah Abdur Rehman, Advocate Yousuf Barki, Maulana Sharifuddin, Sanam Gul, Pir Jehangir Shah, Shams Mehsud and Advocate Adnan Aziz.

The protesters staged a sit in on Traffic Chowk and set tyres on fire to block Tank-South Waziristan-Dera Imail Khan Road for more than five hours.

Over 24 arrested, Section 144 imposed

Addressing the protesters, the leaders of the rally said that people of Tnak had been suffering owing to power loadshedding for the last two months. They said that they had time and again requested the Pesco officials and district administration to stop the step-motherly attitude with the people of Tank as they were also citizen of the country.

The protesters stormed the Pesco office after talks with DPO Kifayatullah Wazir and assistant commissioner failed. The enraged protesters ransacked the Pesco office and set the office record on fire. Police resorted to firing in the air to disperse the protesters.

The administration imposed Section 144 for indefinite period and imposed ban on holding meetings and rallies in the district.

The administration issued arrest warrants for 72 protesters. More than 24 were arrested and raids were being conducted th arrest the remaining protesters.

In Bajaur Agency, power supply remained suspended to majority of the areas during the last four days.

Local people said that the power supply had been suspended on Wednesday during rain, which could not be restored.

“We don’t know the causes of suspension of electricity but most parts of the agency remained out of power for the last several days which has increased the problems of the people,” said Shah Wali Khan, a resident of Mamond.

The people of several rural areas said that they had been facing great problems and difficulties owing to the prolonged suspension of electricity.

They said that most of the people were facing shortage of drinking water as water pumps and tubwells couldn’t be run without electricity. They said that they were forced to fetch water from far-flung areas.

The tribal people demanded of the relevant officials to make serious efforts for the early restoration of electricity to their areas.

An official of the Tesco, when contacted, said that the power supply was suspended owing to technical fault.

He said that efforts were made to resolve the issues but it would take three to four days to restore supply of electricity to the entire agency.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2015

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