LANDI KOTAL: The shopkeepers of Landi Kotal Bazaar held a protest demonstration here on Wednesday against suspension of power supply to their shops.

Holding black flags, the protesting shopkeepers chanted slogans against the officials of Tribal Areas Electricity Supply Company and Khyber Agency political administration for subjecting them to power disconnection for almost 16 months.

Addressing the rally, Akhtar Ali Shinwari, a social activist, blamed the political administration for its failure to restore supply of electricity to the bazaar despite willingness of majority of the traders to install power meters at their shops.

He also accused the `generator mafia` of obstructing the restoration of power supply to Landi Kotal Bazaar and alleged that around 20 power generators were installed by a group of owners, who were selling electricity to shopkeepers in accordance with their daily requirements.

Mr Shinwari said that `generator mafia` was earning Rs60,000 on daily basis as it charged every shop of Rs50 to Rs150 every day so it didn`t want restoration of power supply by Tesco.

He also criticised local political administration and MNA Haji Shahji Gul for their failure to negotiate on behalfofthe tradersforrestoration of power supply.

`The MNA has not paid a single visit to Landi Kotal Bazaar after taking of oath in 2013,` he said.

Said Rehman, a local trader, said on the occasion that business activities in Landi Kotal were hit hard during the last 16 months owing to power disconnection. He demanded of the authorities to restore power supply to the bazaar before the start of Ramazan. He threatened to hold more protest demonstrations if their demand was not met.

Another protest was held in Sur Kamar locality of Jamrud tehsil against shortage of drinking water.

The workers of various political parties, tribal elders and civil society activists gathered at Sur Kamar where a protest camp was set up.

They said that there was acute shortage of water in the area as local administration failed to fulfil its promise of executing a water supply scheme for the locality having a population of nearly 50,000.