2 shot dead in protests against load shedding Protestors ransack banks, shops, burn property

Posted on 11 months ago

FAISALABAD (INP): Violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several cities and towns of Punjab where protestors took to streets, ransacked banks, shops, public properties, blocked roads to register their protest.
In Faisalabad, demonstrators took out the biggest protest so far, blocked Samundri Road and protested against unannounced power cuts while factory owners reached Mepco's office.
The protestors attacked three banks and a CNG station indulging in looting and forced closure of shopping centre on Jaranwala road. They pelted stones at policemen who restored to tear gas shelling.
The angry protestors, most of them powerloom workers, also pelted stones at vehicles, damaging public and private properties against unscheduled load shedding.
Initially, police parties played role as silent spectators, allowing the protestors to freely go on rampage, however, extra contingents were later called in who repulsed the mob by restoring to tear-gas shelling, arresting dozens of people.
Earlier, in the fresh anti-load shedding protest, hundreds of people marched on roads and chanted slogans against government authorities.
They called for an end to the 22-hour-long power cuts which have severely affected industries, businesses and the daily life at times when mercury has gone up at extreme proportion.
Protesters in Gojra and Mandi Bahauddin blocked the main intersections.
In Sargodha, angry residents of the suburban areas damaged Wapda office where police were called to disperse the crowd and control the situation. According to reports during clashes between the protestors and police, a DSP, SHO and five policemen were among 20 injured. In Khanewal, there were demonstrations in different parts of the city and police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse them. One child was killed in firing by the guard of Ahmad Yar Haraj, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and seven persons were injured.
Frustrated with persistent load shedding, enraged residents torched the city police station gate and several police motorcycles in Chichawatni. They also attacked an MNA's house due to which police registered a case against 1,200 persons and arrested 10 others allegedly involved in the violence.
In Zafarwal, a man was killed in the firing by guard of MNA Tariq Anis and four persons were injured. The protestors in Chakwal blocked the Lahore-Islamabad motorway. They burnt flags of a political party and chanted slogans against the government.
A large number of students also resorted to protest against power outages in Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blocked the Dir-Afghanistan highway.

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