SIALKOT, Aug 27: Following in the footstep of protesters of Okara, hundreds of people from all walks of life let loose their indignation against the Water and Power Development Authority installations on Wednesday to record dissent against loadshedding.
Sialkot was where people in hundreds -- traders, labourers and industrial workers being on the forefront -- pelted the Gepco main office on Shahabpura Road with stones and bricks. They also hurled iron rods and hockey sticks to register their protest against unbridled loadshedding.
Damaging the windowpanes, the mob also ransacked the office and roughed up some of the officials who tried to step in. Most of the officials, it is learnt, fled the workplace.
Reportedly, the power supply remained suspended the whole night between Tuesday and Wednesday and there was no improvement even in the morning, hampering the business activities and routine of all.
Meanwhile, the traders observed a shutter-down strike which prompted a large number of people to come out.
The protesters threw the traffic out of gear on the inter-city route by burning tyres. As the police wielded the baton, several protesters suffered injuries at Shahabpur Chowk.
Labourers were fuming with anger as they had been terminated from factories because of power crisis and hundreds of daily-wagers were equally upset.
Commuters had a tough day out in the absence of public transport – another casualty of protest.
The Gepco Daska authorities held negotiations with the protesting traders, but failed to give any schedule of power loadshedding.
Making the situation worse, the only transformer supplying electricity to the National Database and Registration Authority offices went out of order owing to fluctuation.
The working at Nadra’s Daska offices remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as no alternative arrangements could be made.
A number of visitors staged an anti-Nadra sit-in in front of its offices and chanted slogans against the officials.
SAHIWAL: Reports of protests against the power woes poured in from Sahiwal as well.
Hundreds of people, led by traders, took to the street and chanted slogans against the officials. They blocked traffic on the GT Road for 40 minutes.
OKARA: The Lesco chief held a dialogue with the traders and assured them that the duration of loadshedding would be made equal to the one being followed in Lahore.
Charged-up people had damaged the railways property a day earlier, sparking off a clash between the protesters and the police.
In the wake of the protest, Lesco chief Akram Arain visited Okara on Wednesday and held dialogues with the traders at the Civil Rest House.
Punjab Labour Minister Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna and DPO Ihsan Sadiq were also present.
Similar protests were held in Sheikhupura and Mandi Bahauddin.
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