The electricity consumers Friday continued their protest demonstration against an exorbitant hike in electricity bills consecutively for the fourth day in different cities of the country, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to reports, hundreds of citizens staged a protest demonstration at Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi over the extra electricity bills. They blocked the Murree Road, the main city artery for all kinds of traffic and caused a traffic jam for hours.
Holding banners and placards, inscribed with their demands, they rallied and gathered at Liaquat Bagh. They were raising anti-government slogans and demanded to withdraw an extra hike in electricity bills. They alleged that the rulers had no sense in the era of skyrocketing inflation.
A large number of people also staged protest rallies against an exorbitant hike in electricity bills at the Kechehri Chowk.
They said that the anti-people stance of the IMF is not acceptable in any case. The protesters called the excessive electricity bills unfair and demanded that the government withdraw the increase immediately. They warned the government to abolish electricity taxes, otherwise, they would start a civil disobedience movement.
Similarly, a large number of residents of Gulbahar and surrounding areas of Peshawar came out on the streets against the inflated electricity bills being issued by Peshawar Electricity Supply Company.
The charged protestors also burnt their electricity bills and demanded the government to direct the power utility company to immediately waive the fuel price adjustment from the current month’s bills and give refunds to consumers who have already deposited their electricity bills with fuel price adjustment.
They also expressed their anger over the everyday increase in the charges of electricity, saying that they were unable to pay bills due to high inflation. They vowed that they would not pay exorbitant electricity bills anymore.
Considering the large number of protesters, additional police personnel were deployed outside the electricity supply offices.
In Sahiwal, power consumers also refused to pay their electricity bills in protest. They believed that the government had put an illegal tax burden on them.
In the present history worst inflation, they pay an inflated electricity bills or to feed their children.
In Mardan, scores of protesters of Gali Bagh staged a demonstration before the Mardan Press Club to register their protest against inflated power bills. They blocked the main road for all traffic. They raised slogans against WAPDA.
Should we provide sustenance for our children or pay electricity bills, protestors questioned. “How can a poor pay a bill of 40,000 who earns only 10,000 per month, they asked. The government should stop the economic killing of the people, protesters said.
They held that the government should withdraw the decision to increase electricity prices and taxes.
Likewise, hundred of people held a protest demonstration in Gujranwala city against inflated power bills. They blocked the GT Road for all kinds of traffic on Friday.
Holding placards inscribed with their demands, they were chanting slogans against the government and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).
The participants held that they were forced to pay electricity bills after selling household items. They said that it had become difficult to keep both body and soul together in the current inflation. Inflated electricity bills are adding salt to their wounds, they said, adding that the government should provide relief to the people by abolishing illegal taxes immediately.
Likewise, scores of electricity consumers staged a protest demonstration in front of Swat Press Club against rising electricity prices and unscheduled load shedding.
The consumers were holding electricity bills and raised slogans against WAPDA.
The protestors including political workers above their political party affiliations participated in the rally. They demanded WAPDA remove additional taxes added to the electricity bills, otherwise, they would burn electricity bills instead of paying dues.
The participants observed that additional tax in the bills is not acceptable. It is an injustice to the poor who are already facing un-employment and load shedding, they added.
The protesters said that an increase in electricity bills and taxes would not be accepted in any case.
Reporter: Aamir Shehzad