—– Demonstrators in various cities stage protests
—– Protestors lament consumers take loans to pay bills
—– Traders join protesters, observe shutter down strike
—– Fearing backlash, Wapda bill distributors avoid going door-to-door
Staff Report
Islamabad: Traders across the country joined protesters Thursday to demonstrate against massive hike in electricity tariffs as the caretaker government expressed helplessness to provide relief owing to strict International Monetary (IMF) condi-tions.
The incensed citizens, already reeling under runaway inflation, have been protest-ing across the country for the last six days, setting electricity bills on fire while demanding the government to withdraw the hike in the tariffs. Various traders’ associations in different cities including Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bhawalpur, Quetta, Vehari, Peshawar and others are observing shutter-down strike to force the government to provide relief in the bills.
On the other hand, As protests against excessive electricity bills continue across the country, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) employees are afraid to go door-to-door to distribute bills, media reported on Thursday.
In Jhelum, a Wapda employee opted to drop power bills at a nearby hotel instead of going door-to-door fearing backlash from inflation-hit consumers protesting across the country against massive hike in power tariffs.
On the other hand, the Gujranwala Traffic Police, realising the anger of the in-censed citizens over the electricity bills, tried to pacify citizens by avoiding impos-ing fine on motorcyclists.
Earlier this week, a group of agitated shopkeepers in Karachi’s Timber Market area took K-Electric vehicles and their staff hostage after they tried to disconnect elec-tricity in the area. According to Pakistan Timber Traders Association (PTTA) Chairman Sharjeel Go-plani, a team from K-Electric tried to cut off power to various shops in the area, leading to a confrontation.
As the frustration of already burdened consumers rises over the rocketing bills and the government claims it can do little to alleviate their burdens, citing the In-ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, people are becoming increasingly agitated, resorting to violence.
The Awami National Party (ANP) led a rally in Peshawar and threatened a “paiya jam” [wheel jam] strike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On the other hand, protestors lamented that they would have to take loans to pay the exorbitant bills. In Rajanpur, businessmen protested by holding up elec-tricity bills, meters, and bread.
Rallies were also held in Gujarat, Bahawalnagar, Mian Chanu, Hafizabad, and Tando Allahyar and citizens burnt electricity bills while demanding the withdrawal of additional taxes and expensive tariffs.
