ABBOTTABAD, Feb 16: The residents of Abbottabad, Havelian and Haripur localities have complained of the suspension of electric supply for 18 hours daily.

They said prolonged loadshedding had stressed them out for two days and that their repeated requests to Pesco for smooth electric supply had fallen on deaf ears.

Students complained that they’re struggling to prepare for examinations under the circumstances, while businessmen reported low sales due to power outages.

There were also complaints of water shortage in almost all parts of the city.

The people demanded Pesco to announce a loadshedding schedule and strictly follow them.

Also in the day, local police arrested a Wapda line superintendent over transformer theft.

The arrest of Jehanzeb came on the complaint of a cellular company.

Police registered a case against him and began investigation.

Meanwhile, six houses were burgled in different localities of Abbottabad.

Police said burglars took away Rs1.5 million gold ornaments, Rs0.125 million cash, digital cameras, five cellphones and other valuables from a house in Sir Syed Colony in Mandian and gold jewelry, cash, mobile phones, laptop from four houses in Ourash Colony and other parts of Nawansher.

They said investigation into burglaries had been launched after the registration of separate cases.

Also in the day, the pathological laboratory of Ayub Medical Complex Hospital became fully functional.

According to a spokesman for the hospital, kits have been provided to the lab for tests of all kinds.

He said the hospital’s filter clinic had also been reactivated in line with the directions of AMC chief executive Dr Nisar Khan.

The spokesman said the CE had directed senior doctors to ensure their presence at OPDs besides ordering safe disposal of the hospital waste.

Meanwhile, Provincial ombudsman Badshah Gul Wazir on Saturday ordered action against the relevant Tehsil Municipal Administration, Havelian officials and the contractor over delay in completion of a local water supply scheme.

The action was taken on the complaint of Nisar Ahmad, who said TMA released funds to contractor Shareefullah in July 2011 for the scheme but no work has yet been done on it.

The ombudsman asked the relevant director of the provincial anti-corruption department to initiate legal action against the TMA officials concerned and contractor within 30 days and report compliance.