Power riots in Punjab

tribune.com.pk

19 04 2010

Karachi: Power riots evoke a sense of déjà vu. Scenes of protestors attacking Mepco, Wapda or KESC offices in a fit of rage no longer shock anyone with a cursory knowledge of domestic events.

This past week tempers were particularly frayed in south Punjab where businesses shut down on Wednesday to protest the grueling loadshedding schedules. The response to the shutter down strike predictably turned violent when baton-wielding police charged protestors: 14 were injured outside Mepco offices in Multan, and another 14 in Vehari while protestors attacked a Wapda office in Khanewal.

Elsewhere in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Okara and Gujrat, scores showed up, blocking off main roads, some vandalising properties, others chanting slogans against the cruel 20-hours of loadshedding. Similar scenes were witnessed on Friday last in Lahore over 18-hours of loadshedding.

While one condemns the vandalisation of property which law enforcement agencies have the right to contain, what options are consumers left with? Loadshedding of 18 to 20 hours a day is criminal and should prompt concerned authorities to spring into action before blood is spilled on the streets. That the Minister of Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf hasn’t stepped down having reneged several times on false promises is in itself a sad reflection of the priorities attached to providing citizens utilities.

It cannot be stressed enough that short-term measures are needed on a war footing — let rental power projects that do not jip the government begin operations, and let the hurdles faced by independent power producers be expedited so they can come into effect. The waffling on exploring alternative sources of renewable energy must stop and be turned into a reality so that some respite is made possible.

Our recent discussions with the US about civilian nuclear technology are a good step. A crackdown against electricity theft and the installation of smart grids to assist in a wiser consumption of energy will quell some of the anger.

Load shedding bring people on roads

samaa.tv

14 Apr 10

LAHORE: Protest demonstrations are being staged in several cities of Punjab and angry protesters damaged public property in some instances. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Small Traders called a shutter down strike in Multan and nearby cities.

Protest demonstrations against power load shedding and price hikes are being staged in Multan and neighbouring cities. Demonstrators blocked a road during the protest at Chowk bazaar, Hussain Agai.

Shopping and trade centres of all scales remained closed during the strike. Heavy contingent of the police were deployed in the city to control law and order situation.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, protestors burnt tyres and blocked all major streets. All markets and shops remained completely close. Traders and citizens took out rallies from several areas of the city. The demonstrators were chanting anti-government slogans. All rallies reached Kalma Chowk and become a big protest demonstration. The protestors said that if the government wouldn’t end load shedding, the traders will launch a civil disobedience movement and will stop paying power bills as well as taxes.

Traders, students and common people staged protest demonstrations in Vihari, Khanewal, Okara and several other small towns of Punjab. Enraged people burnt tyres, blocked roads and chanted slogans against the government. SAMAA

Country wide protests continue against loadshedding

dawn.com

Monday, 12 Apr, 2010

KARACHI: The frustration of the people intensifies as the hours of loadshedding increases throughout the country.

Protests against prolonged and unscheduled power outages continued throughout the country on Monday.

In Hyderabad, a rally was taken out by members of a business association as protesters blocked the main Jinnah roundabout.

Residents of Multan also took to the streets with traders calling on the government to deal with the power crisis immediately.

Protest was also held in Gujranwala where people blocked Ghakar GT Road and chanted anti-government slogans.

Protests against the power cuts were also held in Bahawalnagar, Sukkur, Badin, Mirpur Khas, Larkana, Thatta and Ghotki, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Kurk, Swat and Muzaffarabad.—DawnNews

~ par Alain Bertho sur 19 avril 2010.

Publié dans émeutes, riots