In an attempt to manipulate voters of NA-122 in the upcoming by-polls, residents have been given relief of two to three hours in load shedding by the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO), Pakistan Today has found.
Residents of Ghari Shahu, Dharampura, Samanabad, Ichhra, Shadman, Mozang and other areas falling in NA-122 constituency criticised the PML-N government for its failure to overcome the issue of load shedding and instead just papering over the issue by providing temporary relief shortly before the elections. They also said that price of oil had not been reduced at par with global prices.
Residents of Ghari Shahu told Pakistan Today they had been provided two-hour relief in load shedding starting from 5:15PM and 11:15PM and the same situation prevailed in Dharmpura.
Samanabad residents said that two-hour relief in load shedding had been given to them on 7:15AM and 5:15PM daily. Shadman residents said timings of load shedding had been reduced with relief between 10:15PM and 3:15pm. Residents of Shadman said they had been given relief in load shedding, especially during nighttime since the 1st.
Muslim Town residents also said that their load shedding had been decreased to 5 hours every day for the last week or so. They perceived it as an attempt by the PML-N to “fool” the voters.
As per power shortfall details, on October 08, 2015 power shortfall was at 5,500MW; on 6, 4400MW; on 5, 4500MW; on 4, 4200MW and on 3, it was recorded at 3500MW. It is noted that on October 8, shortfall increased but no severe power cuts were reported in NA-122 constituency, the election area of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ayaz Sadiq and PTI candidate Abdul Aleem Khan.
Officials at four grid stations falling in NA-122 constituency refused to comment on the load shedding schedule when they were questioned about how sudden relief in power outages had been made possible.
Legal expert Azhar Siddique termed the reduction in load shedding, especially in days preceding the by-polls in NA-122 sheer violation of the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). They said that ECP should take notice of the matter of reduction in load shedding in constituencies where by-polls are being held shortly, especially the NA-122 constituency where government was desperate for its success.
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed refused to talk about the issue of load shedding in NA-122 while PML-N Lahore President Pervez Malik also declined to comment.
