Friday, August 7, 2009

Anti-loadshedding protests rising in NWFP

PESHAWAR: The activists of Pasban Friday staged a protest demonstration against unscheduled loadshedding and police firing at protesters in which one person was killed.

Led by provincial secretary general of the organisation Abdur Rahmand, vice-president Syed Ashfaq Bacha and others, the protesters gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club.

They were chanting slogans and holding placards inscribed with slogans against the government, Wapda authorities and police.

The speakers on the occasion criticised the government for its failure in providing basic amenities to the people. They said unannounced loadshedding had made life miserable for the people.

And when the people took to street to express their anguish over the non-availability of electricity, the police showered bullets on them, they added.

The speakers said that the killing of a protester on Kohat road by police was not the first incident of its nature. Two protesters were killed in the hometown of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti a few days ago, they added.

The protestors asked the government to immediately lodge cases against the policemen responsible for the ugly incident and award them an exemplary punishment.

Meanwhile, the students of Bara, Khyber Agency, also staged a protest demonstration here against the excessive power outages and low voltage.

They gathered outside Peshawar Press Club under the aegis of Bara Welfare Student Union, the students bitterly criticised the government and Wapda authorities for power supply cuts.

The students urged the governor and the political administration of Khyber Agency to take prompt steps for ridding them of the menace of loadshedding.

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