NOWSHERA: Public anger over prolonged unannounced load-shedding and frequent power tripping boiled over in Nowshera on Tuesday, as a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led protest turned into a sit-in, blocking a major road for nearly six hours.
The protest began at around 11am against prolonged power outages and frequent tripping. PTI workers were joined by residents, who later staged a sit-in at Shobra Chowk on the call of MPA Mian Umar Kakakhel and MNA Syed Shah Ahmed.
The protesters blocked the road to all traffic and demanded that Pesco officials personally visit Shobra Chowk and hold negotiations with them to resolve the issue of unannounced and prolonged load-shedding.
After several attempts by the local administration, Nowshera Deputy Commissioner, XEN Cantt and XEN City reached the protesters. Negotiations were held with the protesters under the leadership of PTI leader and Adviser for Agriculture Mian Umar Kakakhel.
During the talks, the protesters demanded an immediate end to unannounced and prolonged load-shedding and resolution of the problem of frequent power tripping.After lengthy negotiations, it was agreed that routine load-shedding would be carried out according to the announced schedule, while additional unannounced outages would be stopped. The Pesco officials also assured the protesters that the frequent tripping problem would be addressed on an urgent basis.
It was further agreed that local representatives and citizens would cooperate with the Pesco authorities in action against electricity theft and illegal connections. The participants also agreed that no recommendations or political pressure would be exerted to protect electricity thieves from action.
Speaking on the occasion, Mian Umar Kakakhel said that the Pesco officials repeatedly blamed consumers for electricity theft. However, he alleged that some employees were also involved in facilitating illegal electricity use.
He warned that if the protesters’ demands were not implemented, they would launch a fresh protest against the concerned executive engineers and stage demonstrations outside their offices.Following successful negotiations between the administration and protesters, the nearly six-hour sit-in at Shobra Chowk was called off and traffic was restored.
