- Protest in Mauripur continued for more than 24 hours.
- Protesters clashed with LEA personnel.
- Pakistan witnesses shortfall of 5,500MW electricity.
KARACHI: The protest against loadshedding in Karachi’s Mauripur area — which continued for more than a day — ended on Tuesday evening after area residents decided to disperse and return home.
According to Deputy Commissioner South Abdul Sattar, the protesters decided to call the demonstrations off after successfully negotiating with authorities.
He added that previously, some people had refused to comply and continued protesting despite being assured that their grievances would be addressed. As a result, the protests continued for more than 24 hours.
Sattar also said that traffic in the area has been restored, which had been blocked because of the demonstration. Traffic from the ICI bridge to the Lyari Expressway, which had been suspended, has also been restored.
Sindh CM instructs energy minister to control loadshedding
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has instructed the provincial energy minister Imtiaz Sheikh to ensure that the electricity loadshedding situation in the metropolis is controlled in a timely fashion.
He told Sheikh to hold talks with K-Electric in this regard and convey to the company that prolonged loadshedding is creating a law and order situation in the city.
“K-Electric should fix its systems. How many difficulties will the masses further bear?” CM Shah said, adding that the electricity shortage in the city should be addressed on a priority basis.
Protests turn violent
Earlier in the day, the protest had taken a violent turn after participants clashed with law enforcement agencies (LEAs), leaving a policeman and several protesters injured.
The protesters said that the area was witnessing constant loadshedding despite them paying their utility dues.
The police and Rangers personnel tried to get the situation under control, however, the protesters did not go on the back foot and pelted stones at them.
Sources in the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) said that the country’s supply is 22,500 megawatts, while the demand is 28,000 megawatts, leaving a shortfall of 5,500 megawatts — this has led to several hours of power outages.
In Karachi’s Gadap Town, the loadshedding time has gone up to 18 hours in a day, while Shah Faisal Colony, Malir, Surjani Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, areas around Jahangir Road, Sultanabad and Kala Pul, among some other areas, are seeing power outages of 14 hours or more.
Police said they arrested four protesters and used water cannons to disperse them. A day earlier, people took to the streets in Teen Hatti, Saddar Preedy Street, Jubilee Market, Shah Faisal Colony, Surjani Town, University Road, MT Khan Road, Nishtar Road, and 14 other areas of the metropolis.