SWABI, March 10: People of various areas of Razaar tehsil on Saturday gathered at Shewa Adda here and blocked the Swabi-Mardan road for an hour to protest against excessive loadshedding by Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and hike in electricity prices.

The consumers from Shewa, Turlandi, Kalu Khan, Karnal Sher Khan Killay and Tarakai areas marched to Shewa Adda chowk and blocked the Swabi-Mardan road for traffic from 9:20am to 10:20am. The traders of Shewa Adda also joined the protesters, who were led by Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao local leaders Saeedullah and Ameen Khan. They demanded of the Pesco toimmediately stop the unscheduled loadshedding and improve its efficiency.

The also criticised the federal government for its anti-people policies and bad governance in the country and asked it to reverse the rising prices of electricity and essential commodities if it was really in control of the country’s affairs.

The protesters said that people were no longer in position to meet the needs of their families due to the unjust policies of the government.

Mr Saeedullah said that the government had no plan to arrest the continued increase in the prices of commodities, as it had been transferring the entire financial burden to the common people.

Later, Kalu Khan police station house officer Izhar Shah assured the protesters that he would convey their demands to the government quarters. On this, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

OPEN KUTCHERY: District police officer Abdul Rashid has urged people to extend cooperation to police to control crime and maintain peace in the district.

He was speaking at an open kutchery at Yar Hussain police station here on Saturday, a day after two explosions rocked the building of Frontier Education Foundation Degree Girls College, Topi.

“Mutual interaction between police and people is essential to eradication of crimes,” he said.