DADU, June 17: Three protest rallies were taken out on Tuesday against unscheduled loadshedding.
One rally was staged at the DPO Chowk, the other at the office of Executive Engineer Hesco, while third outside the press club. Demonstrator also blocked the Indus Highway for a short time.
Shopkeepers took out a procession from the Station Road which after marching on main roads demonstrated at the DPO Chowk resulting in suspension of vehicular traffic on the Indus Highway. Protesters were led by Altaf Charan, Bakhshal Zounr and Hafeez Vighio.
They slammed Hesco for resorting to daily 12 hours of loadshedding at
Station Bazaar, Rai Bazaar, Jewellers Bazaar and Shahi Bazaar which was badly affecting their business activities, along with inflicting heavy financial losses.
Bakhshal Zounr said loadshedding had restrained customers from visiting markets while bills were being paid regularly. They said Hesco officials were carrying out loadshedding to pressurise them in paying them monthly as business community had earlier refused to.
A second rally was taken out from Mazdoorabad up to the press club by consumers. They carried banners and placards and raised slogans against Hesco officials. Moula Bux Lund said that detection and inflated bills were being regularly issued to consumers. Power outages keep closed water supply schemes and people deprived of both basic amenities - water and power.
The third was organised by the residents of Shahani Mohall. Nazeer Ahmed Machhi lamented Hesco officials for providing illegal connections to ice factories and flour mills after greasing of their palms.
They appealed to the federal water and power minister to help rescue them from this dilemma by directing Hesco chief to take notice of unscheduled loadshedding.
BATON CHARGE: Police baton-charged government contractors for blocking the Indus Highway at the DPO Chowk against DCO Dadu for failing to release bills of development schemes. Contractors led by Ghulam Shabbir Channa and Mohammed Bux Thaheem blocked the Highway by erecting hindrances.
Ghulam Shabbir Channa said the DCO Dadu had stopped payment to government contractors since last three months hence development work was suspended. He claimed the DCO of promising to make payments but then he went on long leave.
A heavy contingent of police led by SHO Bashir Ahmed Mangi asked them to clear the road and on refusal, police resorted to baton-charge and arrested eight, including Ali Raza Bhand, Mir Mohammad Abbasi, Mohammad Omer Lund, Bhooro Khan Thaheem, Ali Akbar Leghari and Mohammad Bux Thaheem.
Arrested persons were released on the intervention of EDO Works and Services Khaliq Dino Mirani.
DOCTORS PROTEST: Lady doctors whose services were terminated by the EDO Health took out a procession from the Civil Hospital to the press club on Tuesday.
Social workers also participated in the rally and were led by Dr Shazia Panhwar and Dr Nargis Memon.
They threatened to continue protest till their reinstatement.