Lahore: Mob vents frustration over power outages

[Naveed Yaseen]

* 100 protesters burn LESCO equipment to protest ‘overcharging’, load shedding
* Gujjarpura Police SHO says 60 unidentified youth damaged and burnt equipment
* Shahdara residents block GT Road to protest against LESCO

Staff Report

LAHORE: Around 100 protesters attacked the Madina Colony Electric Supply Company (LESCO) Sub-Division Office (SDO) on Monday, setting the office record, furniture and computers on fire.

Rescue 1122 officials said that between 100 and 150 people, several armed with clubs, marched towards the LESCO office situated near China Scheme in Gujjarpura, while chanting slogans against LESCO for overcharging and massive load shedding. The enraged people beat up LESCO officials and also damaged Sub-Divisional Officer Malik Faizan’s vehicle.

The protesters gathered the furniture, computers and the office records, placed them outside the office, and set them on fire. They also damaged vehicles of LESCO officials parked inside the office and broke the office windows. A large police contingent, with Rescue 1122 and Edhi officials, rushed to the site after LESCO officials informed them about it. The police strategically placed themselves in and around the LESCO office to ensure the protection of government property from infuriated citizens. The police also arrested several protesters when they tried to burn the LESCO office by splattering kerosene oil on it, however, they were released later.

Overcharging: Ali Akbar, a protestor, said that the locals were extremely frustrated by the extensive load shedding, which has dramatically worsened in the past few days. He claimed that LESCO was overcharging the local residents, adding that several complaints had been filed with LESCO officials. He said that the locals had been forced to protest like this as the LESCO officials had not taken any steps to resolve their complaints. He said that locals had become more agitated on Monday morning when several LESCO officials had gathered to remove electricity meters at Madina Colony because several residents had not paid their bills. Hayyat Muhammad, another protestor, alleged that he was suffering heavy losses in his business because of the extensive unscheduled load shedding for the past four days. He also alleged that he had been suffering from a water shortage, which was directly linked to the electricity shortage.

Protesters: Gujjarpura Police Station House Officer (SHO) Sharif Sindho said that initially about 600 to 700 protesters, under the supervision of a local councillor, Lala Ayub, had gathered around the LESCO office. He said they had chanted slogans against LESCO officials for overcharging and massive load shedding. He said that as soon as the LESCO officials informed the police about the protest, they rushed to the scene, where they asked the protesters to disburse. Sindhu said that the protesters claimed that they intended to protest in front of the press club, adding that he and his sub-ordinates had helped them reach the press club, where they protested peacefully. He said that in the interim, about 60 youngsters had gathered around the LESCO office, adding that they had been the ones that thrashed the LESCO officials and burnt the equipment. He said that they escaped from the scene, adding that no arrests were made.

Sub-Divisional Officer Malik Faizan said that the unscheduled load shedding was not an unusual incident as the country was facing an electricity crisis. He said that LESCO had not increased the tariff, adding that it was a policy matter, but people had showed their anger by attacking the officials. He said that he had been allowing people to pay their bills in instalments, adding that despite his efforts to facilitate the consumers, they attacked him, his sub-ordinates, and damaged government property.

Shahdara: Separately, several Shahdara residents also protested against LESCO officials by blocking the main GT Road. The protesters chanted slogans against LESCO officials and burnt several tyres on the road. Shahdara Police, after reaching the scene, dispersed the protesters.

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