SWABI: A shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed across the district on Sunday against the federal government’s “utter failure” to take practical steps for ending the electric loadshedding and providing power to people at subsidised rates.

The strike call was given by Swabi Action Committee (SAC).

The strike was backed by all political and religious parties, Swabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gadoon Estate Industrial Association, all unions of traders and shopkeepers, welfare bodies and youth organisations.

In Shewa Adda, the Razaar tehsil headquarters, protesters prevented some traders from opening their shops.

The SAC members manned Swabi-Ghazi boundary at Shaheed Baba police checkpost, Swabi-Mardan Road, Jehangira Bridge, Topi-Tarbela Road, Swabi-Saleem Khan Road, Swabi-Buner Road and all other routes linking district with other regions to prevent vehicles from plying on the roads.

All SAC members and supporters, leaders and workers of political parties, who were monitoring key points in the cities and markets, were advised to remain peaceful while handling people, transporters, sick people and their family members.

The SAC members said they would soon announce their next line of action, and vowed to continue their peaceful protest for people’s rights.

Salim Khan Advocate, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party and founder of SAC, said blocking Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway at Swabi interchange was one of the options in the next phase of the protest to press their demands.

“Closing motorway completely is one of the options, aiming to press the government to sit across the table with us and meet our demands,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024