Bloodly riots on power outage rock Karachi

[Naveed Yaseen]

* One killed as police open fire on demonstrators
* Rioters attack Dr Asim’s house, MQM MNAs’ vehicles and police checkpost

KARACHI: One man was killed as police opened fire on people protesting against load shedding near the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) office in Hyderi on Sunday, while angry protesters in other parts of the city attacked the house of Petroleum Adviser Dr Asim Hussain and a police checkpost.

A man named Hassam was killed when police allegedly opened fire on a mob protesting against excessive load shedding, a private TV channel reported. After the incident, KESC officials called Rangers to guard the company’s installations. Meanwhile, angry protesters pelted the house of Petroleum Adviser Dr Asim Hussain with stones, while shouting slogans against load shedding. The protesters dispersed after police fired teargas shells at them.

In North Nazimabad, infuriated protesters blocked the Landhi Kotak Chorangi Road with burning tyres and shouted slogans against the KESC administration, another private TV channel reported. The rioters attacked vehicles of MNAs Salahuddin and Farha Khan of the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement, while another angry mob attacked a police checkpost and snatched ammunition from the constable on duty.

Riots over electricity load shedding were reported from almost all parts of the city. According to a private TV channel, riots were witnessed at Punjab Chowrangi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, old Golimar and new Golimar, Liaquatabad, Baloch Colony and Landhi. It said people at the sites resorted to sit-ins and burnt tyres to protest against the KESC’s failure to restore electricity after over 30 hours of load shedding. The city’s VIPs were not exempt from the misery. Sources claimed the Chief Minister’s House had been operating without electricity for over 24 hours, however there was no official word from the CM’s House on whether it was functioning at full capacity.

Following the protests, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah ordered the KESC administration and all departments concerned to immediately end the load shedding in the Sindh capital. A spokeswoman of the KESC claimed on Sunday that 70 percent of the city’s power supply had been restored, APP reported. She maintained that only localised problems caused by the rain persisted. However, residents continued to complain that there was no electricity in their areas. staff report/daily times monitor/app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_6