Loadshedding made Punjab a battlefield

Lahore: Riots have broke out all over the Punjab due to unmatched power breakdown in the history of Pakistan.GT Road in Gujranwala, Lahore Faisalabad road, Multan road khanewal, cheechawatni and other cities of the province have became a battlefield. Protesters burnt public properties including a train in Kamonki, GAPCO office, and police station, attacked the house of Member of National Assembly and Adviser to Prime Minister Ahmad Yar Hiraj, damaged dozens of vehicles, several people injured in firing and police baton charge while a man succumbed to injuries and lost his breath. Several arrests have also been made.

Thousands of people protested against load shedding in different areas in Lahore and recorded their anger.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani have took notice the worst ever load shedding and directed the Minister for Petroleum and Water and Power to immediately take steps to raise the power generation. Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and Adviser for interior Ministery Rehman Malik have accused the Punjab Government for these riots. They said that when Chief Minister himself taking part in protests against load shedding than how could Police stop the protesters.

Gujranwala Police has baton-charged and used tear gas to disperse thousands of locals protesting against load shedding, which is virtually round the clock.

Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Lahore are in severe grip of load-shedding, forcing irked residents to come to the streets. Some areas have been facing load-shedding for over 16 hours a day.

The protesters blocked the main GT Road to alert the authorities about the grievous situation facing them at the start of the summer. They burnt tyres and pelted stones on vehicles.

Heavy contingent of police launched an operation to clear the main thorough way. Police tear gassed the protesters and fired shots in the air in several cities.

In Faisalabad, power looms workers blocked the Jhang Road and Lahore-Faisalabad Road by burning tyres and demanded immediate supply of electricity to the looms so that they could start going back to jobs and earn livelihood.
In Cheechawatni angry mob burnt the Police station and damaged Police vans by throwing stones.
In Khanewal people attacked the house of Prime Minister adviser Ahmad Yar Hiraj ,whereas MNA’s gun man opened fire on the protesters causing seven people injured while a man succumbed to injuries while taking to hospital.

In Lahore, angry residents blocked Band Road and threatened that they would lay siege to the Wapda offices if the electricity situation wasn’t improved.