SWABI: The people continued their sit-in for the second day on Tuesday under the banner of Swabi Action Committee (SAC) to press for subsidised power supply, an end to excessive loadshedding, overbilling and heavy fines.

The protesters spent the night on the Swabi-Topi Road in biting cold. Three rounds of talks have been held between the SAC leaders and the district administration officials since the protest began on Monday, but no headway has been made so far.

People belonging to different regions reached the protest venue outside the deputy commissioner’s office and joined those already there on Tuesday morning.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the government. They said that they would not pay for the electricity generated from fossil fuels and would only pay for the power generated from water.

The traffic on the Swabi-Topi Road remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday, troubling commuters.

Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, leaders of the sit-in said that they would continue the protest unless their demands were met.

SAC spokesman Salim Khan Advocate said: “We have decided to stick to our demands. No one can deny that people of the district have rendered numerous sacrifices for the construction of Tarbela Dam, and they should be supplied power at concessional rates.”

He hoped that more people would join the protest.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that during the talks with the SAC leaders, officials of the district administration promised to reduce the loadshedding hours. They also assured them of making all-out efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the district.

However, the protesters vowed to remain on the road for the Tuesday night.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2024