Power woes: Protesters attack grid station in Charsadda

CHARSADDA: Dozens of enraged residents of Tangi, Charsadda ransacked a power station on Sunday in protest against 'unjust' electricity cuts. 

The protesters complained that despite assurances by the government of not conducting load-shedding during the four-day Eid holiday, they were deprived of electricity since Friday. 

The protesters, led by Tehsil Nazim Yahya Mohmand and MPA Khalid Khan Mohmand of the Qaumi Watan Party attacked the Tangi Grid Station. 

They ransacked the building and damaged heavy machinery installed inside, informed sources. The protesters also damaged the houses of Water and Power Development Authority staffers at the station. 

Later, the protesters blocked the roads in the surrounding areas. After negotiations with the local assistant commissioner succeeded following assurances, the protesters dispersed.

When approached, officials of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company said they are not carrying out 'unjust' load-shedding in the area and only curtail supply as majority residents do not pay bills and steal electricity. 

Load shedding protest takes violent turn in Malakand as one killed, several injured

After vandalising WAPDA office in Dargai, protesters set police station on fire, block main road

Recurring theme 

In late May this year, relentless power cuts forced people to take to the streets across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The worst scenes were reported from Malakand Agency's Dargai area, where protesters first ransacked a WAPDA office and later turned their anger towards law enforcement agencies called in to control the situation. 

The ensuing clashes led to the death of at least one protester and caused injuries to several others, including officials of the local administration. 

Protests were also repeatedly held in Peshawar, headed by an MPA of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, as well as in Charsadda.