Protest demonstrations against electricity load shedding continued across Punjab on Wednesday, as hundreds of protesters were booked for damaging public and private property. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the province on the third consecutive day of violent protests against widespread power cuts. Protests were recorded in Gujranwala, Mirpur, Vehari, Khanewal and Mianwali, where people chanted slogans and burnt tyres to block roads to vent their anger. A complete shutter-down strike was observed across Mianwali where a protest rally was carried out against prolonged power outages and unscheduled electricity load shedding. Heavy contingents of police were deployed outside banks, fuel stations and markets across Punjab to protect property from rioters. Police in Kamalia, Khanewal, Mianwali, Jalalpur Bhatian and other areas registered cases against several protesters for damaging public property, arson, and vandalism. Citizens of Gujranwala blocked the bypass on GT Road for hours to record their protest. In Naukot, Dagri and Jhadu, citizens burnt tyres on the roads and forced the closure of all shops during a rally. On the other hand, at least 60 people, allegedly involved in setting fire to WAPDA office and train carriages in Kamonki tehsil of Gujranwala, were arrested late on Tuesday. Cases against more than 1,000 protesters were registered at the Railway police station for torching a WAPDA office and three train bogeys in Kamonki. Police later rounded up 60 accused, while raids were being conducted for arresting several other people involved in the rioting. The electricity shortfall reportedly come down to 5,905MW of electricity from 6,596MW on Wednesday, as the total generation was recorded as 11,939MW against a demand of 17,844MW.
