Countrywide protests continue against inflated electricity bills
KARACHI/LAHORE (UNA): People across Pakistan are protesting against the inflated electricity bills to assert pressure on the government for relief.
The protesting masses have been demanding that the government should end the provision of free electricity to the notables and provide them relief as the bills they have been receiving are more than their salaries.
Protest demonstrations were held in several parts of Karachi. Masses carrying banners and placards along with their children criticized the government for making their lives miserable.
People staged protest demonstrations in Karachi’s area of Ayesha Manzil, Korangi, Five Star Chowrangi, Yaseenabad, Labour Square and others. The enraged people set their electricity bills on fire.
In several areas of Lahore, people came out on the streets against high electricity bills.
The angry protesters said they could not feed their families if they pay electricity bills. They threatened that they would stage sit-in inside Wapda House if taxes were not withdrawn.
Meanwhile, government employees and businessmen also registered their protest against the inflated electricity bills. They demanded that facility of free electricity to officers should be withdrawn.
The members of Wasa Phool Union also protested in the offices against the increase in electricity bills.
On the other hand, Hall Road traders vent their anger against huge increase in electricity bills. Anjuman-i-Tajran President Babar Mahmood Butt said if the increase in electricity bills was not withdrawn, they would be forced to take to the streets.
Hundreds of citizens surrounded the grid station at Bakra Mandi and burnt electricity bills. They chanted slogans against the government.
They said the government was sucking their blood by adding and hiking taxes in the bills. They warned Iesco officials that they would not allow them to cut their connections.
People came out on the streets in large numbers against inflated electricity bills. They raised slogans against the government.
They demanded that the government should remove additional taxes from the electricity bills immediately. They said the rulers were enjoying luxuries of life by collecting taxes from the poor.
People protested against increase in electricity bills. They raised slogans against the government and Wapda and demanded withdrawal of taxes.
Meanwhile, police and Elite forces were deployed to protect Fesco offices and grid stations in many areas of the city.
Protests against Wapda were held at Fawara Chowk, Lorry Adda, Multan Road and many other places in the city.
The protesters demanded that taxes in the bills should be withdrawn. They said they could not feed their families if pay electricity bills.
People continued to protest against the increase in electricity prices.
A protest rally was organised on Sargodha Road by the Anjuman-i-Tajran. The protesters set up a camp outside the Wapda complex and locked the gate.
They shouted slogans against the government and Wapda and burnt electricity bills.
Protests were organised in Khushab and Joharabad against the inflated electricity bills. The Anjuman Tajran staged a partial strike and demanded withdrawal of additional taxes and increasing existing taxes in electricity bills.
Traders also took out rallies against the cruel tax in electricity bills, citizens set fire to electricity bills in protest.
Citizens came out on the streets in large numbers against heavy electricity bills in Mandra. Hundreds of people, including women and children, gathered on GT Road. They shouted slogans against the government. They blocked Mandra-Chakwal Road causing traffic jam.
The business community and common man rejected the increase in electricity bills. Members of the Anjuman-i-Tajran pulled shutters of their shops down. A rally was also taken out against hike in taxes and inflated electricity bills.
A complete shutter-down strike was held in Mansehra on the call of the Anjuman-i-Tajran. All business centres in the district were closed.
Traders and citizens took out a rally and after marching through the city roads, reached Wapda office where they staged a sit-in.
Protests were also reported from Kamra Cantt, Charsadda, Swabi and Mardan.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have announced protest demonstrations against the inflated electricity bills.
It may be noted that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday chaired an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s House and discussed the issue of rising power bills.
In the emergency meeting convened over the increasing electricity prices, the caretaker PM was briefed on the rise in July power bills.
The caretaker PM directed that power sector reforms and short, medium and long-term plans should be presented at the earliest. He directed the relevant ministries to provide complete details of the officers and institutions enjoying the free electricity.
