Heat-stricken and load shedding-marred, the people of Punjab found it appropriate to take to streets, roads and highways on Thursday to vent their anger against colossal power cuts across the province, with many resorting to arson of several government installations and ransacking of political parties’ offices in desperate attempts to make the government realize their agony.
Load shedding across the province, including in Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot – the main trade hubs of Punjab – is almost being conducted for the entire day, with only “short bursts” of power giving respite for an hour or two. Thousands of protesters took to the roads, ransacked the offices and residences of lawmakers and politicians, attacked WAPDA installations, staged sit-ins, damaged vehicles and clashed with police on Thursday, resulting in injuries to several protesters and policemen in various parts of Punjab.
Demonstrations against unscheduled electricity load shedding were held in Vehari, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Mianwali, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Burewala, Jhelum, Multan, DG Khan, Pir Mahal and Bahawalpur. In Vehari, protesters with batons went on a rampage, damaging public property and a WAPDA office. The protesters broke open the main gate and walls of the WAPDA office, broke windowpanes and doors, and set on fire all office record and equipment. They also set ablaze a jeep, five motorcycles and 10 bicycles parked in the premises.
Several protesters also attacked the office and residences of lawmakers and politicians, including that of PML-N MNA Tehmina Daultana. The residence of Saqib Khurshid, former tehsil nazim and PML-N leader, was also attacked. Some went further ahead and attacked the office of PML-Q MPA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry and PTI Vehari District President Tahir Anwar Wahla and set them on fire. The story did not end there, as the furious mob attacked the Rescue 15 office as well. The Vehari District Bar expressed solidarity with the protesters and observed complete strike. Lawyers forced their entry into the DCO Complex and MEPCO Complex and ransacked them.
They also forcibly switched off electricity generators at the DCO office and clashed with police when it tried to stop them.
In Burewala and Mandi Bahauddin, protesters including women and children besieged WAPDA offices and pelted stones at it. Thousands of industrial workers in Faisalabad also took to the roads in protest, blocking traffic on the main Jhang Road by setting tyres on fire. The situation in Lahore was no different, where angry and violent protests were staged by agitated citizens.
Shahbaz joins protest: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif joined a protest demo against power outages in Chungi Amar Sidhu area of Lahore, sporting a black arm band and chanting slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari-led Pakistan People’s Party government. Shahbaz said the power crisis was a conspiracy against Punjab and threatened to lead a march towards Islamabad if electricity was not restored to Punjab.
PML-Q: PPP’s ally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) also slammed the government over its failure to rein in the spiraling quagmire, threatening to quit the coalition if the government did not end the massive power outages. During the Senate session on Thursday, PML-Q threatened to part ways with the government over the power load shedding issue.
PML-Q leader Kamil Ali Agha said the issue was very serious and it was impossible for him to continue debate over the presidential address in face of such a catastrophic situation. He also protested the absence of minister for water and power.