SUKKUR: Electricity consumers staged protests in Jacobabad on Wednesday against excesses of Sukkur Electric Power Company officials, accusing them of demanding bribes for power connections and usage.

Enraged shopkeepers and residents of Shikarpur Naka area held a sit-in on National Highway and burnt tyres to block traffic, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road.

The protesters` leaders Arbab Machhi, Lutuf Mahar, Babu Zulfiqar Sadhayo and others complained to journalists that Sepco officials had stopped electricity supply to their area without any justification although they were regularly paying bills. The power supply was disconnected in `punishment` for not paying bribe to Sepco officials, they said.

They alleged that a cenain Sepco official was demanding Rs5,000 a month as bribe.

When the area residents did not pay the bribe he cut off electricity supply every 15 days, adversely affecting their businesses.

They demanded immediate restoration of electricity supply and action against the corrupt official.

The other protest was staged by residents of Mohalla Pir Bukhari who took out a rally against another company officer. The protesters marched on different roads before reaching local press club where they held a sit-in on the road, blocking vehicular traffic on both sides.

They demanded Sepco high-ups take notice of the protest, immediately waive unjustified detection bills and take action against corrupt officers, otherwise they would widen their protest.