SWABI: The Swabi Action Committee (SAC), which has the support of major political parties, on Tuesday threatened to besiege the Tarbela Dam’s powerhouse if the government failed to ensure uninterrupted electric supply to the people of the district at subsidised rates.

The warning was made at a large gathering of people held at Gadoon Estate Chowk on Swabi-Topi Road here.

Shops in Topi Tehsil Headquarters, Gadoon Estate Chowk and Sardar Chowk remained closed as protest.

The participants vowed to raise voice for their rights at all forums as the people of Swabi had sacrificed their lands for the construction of Tarbela and Ghazi-Barotha Dams.

Holds rally against outages, calls for subsidised electricity

They also threatened to observe complete shutter down and wheel-jam strike across the district on June 30 if their demand was not met by then.

They warned the police to desist from registering cases against consumers in the name of power theft, saying nobody could stop them from using their ‘own’ electricity.

Local leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Jamaat-i-Islami, Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Qaumi Watan Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazriyati, jirga members, welfare bodies, philanthropists, leaders of business community, industrialists of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate, Swabi Chamber of Commerce and industry participated in the gathering, and fully endorsed the policy of SAC.

Liaqat Yousafzai, media coordinator of SAC, said it had been decided that no party or group would be allowed to raise their flags in the SAC meetings as such gatherings were arranged purely for upholding people’s rights.

Speaking on the occasion, former MNA Bushra Gohar said electric loadshedding issue concerned the entire KP, but Swabi residents had taken the lead to unite the people for their constitutional right. “We have the first right to whatever electricity we generate in the province,” she said.

Addressing the gathering, former MNA Maulana Khalil Ahmad said their struggle would continue until their goals were achieved.

Salim Khan Advocate, for provincial general secretary of ANP, said their struggle was for the rights of the people. He said they wouldn’t deviate from their goal no matter what circumstances they faced.

JUI-F’s Rahim Jadoon, who is Topi tehsil council chairman, wondered as to where the electricity royalty funds were spent. He said Swabi people had the first right over electricity generated from Tarbela Dam.

Masood Jabbar, former provincial deputy secretary of QWP, said that no one could stop the people from realising their rights.

Swabi tehsil chairman Attaullah Khan lauded the SAC struggle, and vowed to make it a success.

Ghulam Haqqani, Razaar tehsil chairman, said the struggle for subsidised power for Swabi people would continue.

Mohammad Ali, president of Swabi Loya Jirga, said the people had the first right over the electricity generated from Tarbela Dam.

Fazal Rahim Jadoon, president of Gadoon Industrial Estate Association, said various units had already been closed in the estate because they could not afford the increasing price of power.

Adil Khan, Chota Lahor tehsil chairman, said people won’t rest until the SAC objectives were achieved.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024