TAXILA: Hundreds of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) consumers of Hazro blocked IslamabadPeshawar motorway (M-1) near Chach interchange for hours to register their protest against inflated electricity bills.

The charged protesters led by PTI local leader Changaiz Khan from Hazro town and adjoining areas reached Islamabad-Peshawar motorway (M-1) near Chachinterchange and puttrafñcoutofgearforhours.

They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the power utility company and the government.

The protesters also burnt their electricity bills and demanded of the government to direct the power utility company to immediately waive fuel price adjustment.

They also shouted slogans against the Iesco, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and the government for multiplying electricity tariffs and imposing taxes on consumers.

The protesters pledged not to deposit payments until immediate withdrawal of the FPA and other taxes and issuance of new bills to them by the power distribution companies. Mr Khan, while addressing protesters, said imposing taxes during this time was cruel and the government must withdraw them.

He said that all Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties were claiming that they not only had a strategy to control inflation but also had a capable team to pull out the country from economic turmoil. `Almost four months have passed but they only increased tariffs and caused inflation,` he added.-Correspondent