SWABI: The residents of Zaida union council staged a demonstration and blocked Zaida-Swabi Road on Monday against the prolonged electric loadshedding, which they said had reached up to 16 hours a day.

The protesters were chanting slogans against Peshawar Electric Supply Company, saying its employees failed to perform their duty. They alleged some Pesco employees encouraged theft of electricity.

The protesters demanded an end to unannounced power loadshedding.

Local jirga president Khanzada Abdul Quddus Khan, JUI-F district general secretary Noorul Islam Khan, ANP`s Malik Aman, Qaumi Watan Party`s Iftikhar Khan, PML-N`s Aamir Rahidar, PTI`s Wahid Khan and others spoke to the protesters.

They said it was Pesco`s responsibility to announce schedule of loadshedding, enabling consumers to make their plans and live according to that.

They warned if the loadshedding was not reduced within a week they would block Swabi-Jehangira Road.

Afterwards they reopened the road and moved peacefully to their homes. Correspondent