The violence-prone city narrowly escaped another serious law and order situation as the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) management came face to face after the power utility disconnected supply to the PPP stronghold of Lyari but later acceded to the demands of the vociferous protesters staging a sit-in outside its head office.
Protesting against the alleged highhandedness of the KESC management against the peaceful people of Lyari, the PPP’s provincial lawmakers and activists on Tuesday demanded the restoration of power to the volatile neighbourhood.
Earlier, a press conference was held at the Karachi Press Club by the PPP’s Sindh Assembly members Muhammad Saleem Hingoro, Shama Mithani, Najma Saeed Chawla, ex-MPA Nasreen Chandio and the PPP Sindh chapter officials, including South Zone General Secretary Engineer Taimoor Ali, youth wing president Rauf Nagori and heads of districts Malir and South.
“If feeder operations are not restored in Lyari until 4:00 pm we would stage a sit-in at the KESC head office,” Hingoro warned the power company’s management.
The lawmaker said the KESC had disconnected power supply to Lyari after an FIR was lodged against it by the South district officer. “I wonder how come the KESC is punishing two million residents of Lyari for what was done by an individual, who is in-charge of the entire South district,” the MPA said.
The PPP South General Secretary said the KESC, headed by Tabish Gauhar, was compelling the peaceful people of Lyari to take to the streets and ransack the company’s belongings like its own employees have done in the past.
“We did not privatise the KESC to give it a free hand to do whatever it wants,” Ali remarked.
Asked as to why the PPP lawmakers and office bearers were helpless despite ruling the country, the leader said the government is adhering to the provisions of the bilateral agreement it signed with the power utility, which, however, is not showing the same spirit.
The provincial lawmakers vowed to raise the matter in the Sindh Assembly, which would reassemble today (Wednesday).
Later, a large number of residents of Lyari gathered at the KESC head office to stage a sit-in against the company administration. However, the protesters dispersed peacefully after the power utility’s management assured them of early restoration of electricity in the affected areas of Baghdadi, Shah Baig Line, Khadda Market, Naya Abad.
Reportedly, a demonstration was also held at the Mauripur Road by an angry mob from Lyari against the day-long blackout.
