By Bureau report
Experiencing the worst kind of power cuts on first day of the holy month of Ramazan, the angry residents of City Town, Hashtnagri, Chowk Shadi Pir, Ghari Khana and adjacent areas came out on the roads and chanted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and provincial government. They also pelted vehicles with stones, ripped apart signboards and damaged the shutters of several shops to vent anger.
Despite its tall claims about not carrying out loadshedding during Iftar and Sehar, the Pesco is observing hours-long power breakdowns.
The protesters said the Pesco authorities had held out repeated assurances that there would be no loadshedding during Iftar and Sehar but on the very first day of Ramazan power was suspended from 4 to 5 a.m. and then 8 to 9 p.m. Criticising the federal and provincial governments as well as Pesco authorities, Syed Ali, a resident of Hashtnagri, said the power rates were going up on daily basis but the authorities concerned were unable to provide the facility to the people.
“Due to absence of electricity at Sehar, women faced enormous problems and now at Iftar again there was no power which compelled us to break fast in the candlelight,” Zahir Shah said, criticising what he said was injustice meted out to the people. “The Wapda authorities should take pity on us at least during the holy month of Ramazan,” he requested.
Another angry protester, Nauman Akbar, while criticising the government, said the people expected from the Pakistan People’s Party-led government that it would ease the problems being faced by common people. However, instead of providing relief, the government has put further burden on the people by increasing fuel prices, electricity charges and gifting the people with unprecedented price-hike.
Wapda Chairman Shakeel Durrani, who is said to be a seasoned and honest bureaucrat, too failed to keep his word. He had said several days before the month of Ramazan that there would be no loadshedding during Ramazan. Forget about the entire month, the authorities could not even ensure availability of electricity at Sehar and Iftar times on day one of the holy month, said Baryal Khan, a resident of Chowk Shadi Pir.
Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti had repeatedly claimed before reaching the power corridors that he would not only put a permanent end to loadshedding but also bring down the prices of electricity in the province that generates electricity. But he could not fulfil any of the promises he had made with the people, said Hameedullah Khan of Hashtnagri.
Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully after getting assurance from police officials that their problem would be addressed and the Pesco authorities would be informed about their sufferings.