Prolonged loadshedding sparks protest, road blockade

NOWSHERA: The residents of Rashakai, Shirin Kotai, Kotar Panr, and Bara Banda on Saturday protested against 22-hours of unannounced load-shedding, blocking the Nowshera-Mardan GT Road near Rashakai Interchange for around six hours and suspending traffic on the road and motorway.

The protestors demanded a written guarantee from Pesco officials to end the unannounced load-shedding. Despite the sweltering 44-degree Celsius heat, the demonstrators remained resolute. Allegedly, a child died during the road blockade, having suffered an electric shock and being delayed in reaching the hospital for six hours due to the road closure.

Negotiations between the administration, police, and community elders initially seemed successful initially, but some of the demonstrators rejected the agreements and refused to clear the road. Subsequently, the police resorted to baton charge, tear gas shelling, and aerial firing to disperse the crowd. The enraged protestors retaliated with intense stone-pelting and aerial firing, causing chaos. During the confrontation, the police seized a pistol from a young protester and registered cases against over a hundred individuals, launching a crackdown to arrest those involved. According to SHO Rashakai Kashif Khan, the disturbance was sparked by extended load-shedding in the Rashakai area, prompting the residents to block the Nowshera-Mardan Road and Rashakai Interchange at 8am.

Heavy police reinforcements were called in as the crowd swelled later on. Negotiations, including the Assistant Commissioner Tanveer Ahmed, DSP Cantt Muqdam Khan, DSP Rashakai Circle Zahid Alam, and Pesco officials, failed as the protestors insisted on an immediate end to forced load shedding with written assurance. The protest involved activists from various religious and political parties, led by Village Council Rashakai Vice Chairman Haider Khan, Qari Haroon, former nazim Nabi Gul, and others.

Several police officers and civilians sustained injuries. Cases were registered against numerous individuals, including known figures such as Rashakai Village Vice Chairman Haider Khan, former nazim Muhammad Nabi Gul, and Qari Haroon, among others while arrests are underway till the filing of this report.