BAJAUR: The residents of Khar town here on Sunday expressed their anger over the prolonged electricity loadshedding, and announced to launch a protest movement against the `power crisis` from Monday (today).
The decision was made during a meeting of the Khar Islahi Jirga, an organisation working for people`s welfare in Khar town. Jirga chairman Haji Said Ahmad Jan presided over the meeting.
Political activists, traders and prayer leaders also attended the meeting meant to devise a plan of action in view of the excessive power loadshedding.
The participants pointed out that residents of the entire district had been facing power disruption for last several months, affecting business activities and daily life. They said over 20 hours long electricity suspensions had also caused water shortage in both homes and mosques.
The meeting was informed that there were some areas where electricity supply remained suspended for four to five days a week.
The participants termed the prolonged power outages unacceptable and great injustice with the residents.
Some participants alleged the prolonged power outage was part of the Tribal Electric Supply Company`s strategy to force the residents to install power meters at their homes and workplaces. However, they vowed not to install meters as they had been regularly paying the electricity charges as per flat tariff rate.
The jirga participants said they had taken up the issue with senior officials of the district administration and Tesco time and again, but the latter failed to resolve the issue.
The participants decided to launch a protest movement against the prolonged power outages with a sit-in in Khar Bazaar on Monday followed by a shutter down strilce.
They said people from all walks of life would attend the sit-in.
Meanwhile, the residents and traders of Sadiqabad town also announced to stage a protest demonstration against the prolonged power outages on Monday (today).
This decision was made at a meeting chaired by Sadiqabad neighbourhood chairman and president of Sadiqabad traders` association Haji Akbar Jan, according to a statement issued on Sunday. Correspondent
