Angry demonstrators took out the streets to protest against over-billing and unscheduled load shedding, across the country on Thursday. According to details, people blocked roads in various areas in southern Punjab and burnt electricity bills, tyres and staged demonstration chanted slogans against government policies.
It is also learnt that at some places police baton charge the protesters to disperse them. The infuriated crowd of protesters also attacked on the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) offices in various areas and chanted slogans against the administration.
After setting the electricity bills alight, the protesters refused to pay their bills even in instalments, and vowed to continue protesting until the decision of raise in power tariff taking back. After the sad incident of setting on fire of Mepco office security was tightened at all Mepco offices and grid stations in view of the protests. Local industrialists and traders also met in Gujranwala and Faisalabad to plan strikes and protests.
Meanwhile, traders observed a complete shutter-down strike in Sargodha and blocked a railway track at Nikalwala in protest against the load shedding. Small traders and business community of Burewala also staged protest against Wapda. Meanwhile, the government has deferred the payment of electricity bills by consumers for 10 days here in view of the severe reaction shown by them against the persistent load shedding and over-billing.