One killed in violent loadshedding protests

LAHORE: Violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several areas of the Punjab while one protestor also lost his life when protestors took to streets in Khanewal, Geo News reported Monday.

According to sources, protestors gathered outside Prime Minister Gilani’s special advisor Ahmed Yar Hiraj’s house and pelted stones. His guards then resorted to firing that injured three protestors, out of which one later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

In Faisalabad, demonstrators blocked Samundri Road and protested against unannounced power cuts while factory owners reached Mepco’s office.

Protests also took place in Gojra and Mandi Bahauddin where demonstrators blocked the main intersection.

In Sargodha, angry residents of the suburban areas damaged Wapda office where police were called to disperse the crowd and control the situation.

The protestors in Chakwal blocked the Lahore-Islamabad motorway. They burnt flags of a political party and chanted slogans against the government.

A large number of students also resorted to protest against power outages in Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blocked the Dir-Afghanistan highway.

On Monday, frustrated with persistent loadshedding, enraged residents torched the city police station gate and several police motorcycles in Chicawatni. They also attacked an MNA’s house due to which police has registered a case against 1,200 persons and arrested ten others who were allegedly involved in the violence.