Protests against inflated electricity bills shut many Pakistani, Azad Kashmir cities

People organised protests and observed shutdowns and wheel-jam strikes on Thursday against the hike in electricity bills in different areas of the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In Jhelum Valley, AJK, people observed a complete shutdown and wheel-jam strike against the hike in electricity bills. The business centres remained closed, and the people threatened to march on Islamabad in case their demands were not met.

A shutdown, along with a wheel-jam strike, was observed in Neelum Valley too. Protest rallies were organised in different areas of the valley.

In Okara, traders observed a complete shutdown on the call of Anjuman-e-Tajiran Oraka. The traders, along with the civil society members, set up a protest camp at Gol Chowk against the hike in electricity bills.

In Sialkot, traders and civil society members staged a protest outside the Gepco City Circle office. The protesters shouted slogans against the government and set electricity bills on fire.

In Lalamusa, people protested on GT Road on the appeal of Anjuman-e-Tajiran and raised slogans against the government over the hike in electricity bills.

In Kharian, people’s protest against the inflated electricity bills entered the sixth day. Women, traders and civil society members participated in the protest and demanded that the government withdraw the increase in electricity bills.

Reporters: Mubarak Hussain, Safeer Raza, Ashfaq Abbasi, Shahzad Khan, Muhammad Ashfaq, Zulfiqar Ahmed, Tanvir Naqvi