System develops fault after protesters ‘forcibly’ restore power

PESHAWAR: The power supply remained suspended to a number of villages due to a fault in the system after protesters forcibly switched on feeders at the Rahman Baba grid station.

The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) authorities said the power supply was suspended to a number of villages due to the fault while the repair work was going on to rectify it.

After the chief minister’s orders, workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf along with their elected members are activating feeders to ensure there was no loadshedding for more than 12 hours in any area.

The Pesco officials have sent a report to the federal government for lodging cases against at least 10 elected representatives, including Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, tehsil nazim and village council nazims, for forcibly switching on feeders.

The provincial government has directed the Pesco officials that there will be no loadshedding for over 12 hours in any area of the province. The police have been directed not to lodge cases against any Member National Assembly (MNA) or any Member Provincial Assembly (MPA).

Unprecedented power breakdowns triggered protests across the province over the last few days of Eid. In many areas, protesters, led by their respective MNAs and MPAs in some towns, took control of their grid stations and resumed power supply to villages.

Meanwhile, several residents of neighbourhood council-44 Kakshal, led by one Abdul Rehman said that even if the Rahman Baba grid station developed some fault, it should have been corrected in 5 to 6 hours.

“There has been a blackout since 3pm and now it is 10pm and still there is no assurance that power supply will be restored anytime soon. This is pathetic,” he added.

“Also, it is a serious injustice to our localities to have been linked to the Rahman Baba gird station. If we are regularly paying bills in the city, our localities must be linked to the city feeders and grid station,” he said.

Several residents said that there were children and particularly patients, who were suffering due to the electricity breakdown.