Govt backed loadshedding protests across Punjab

LAHORE: Violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several areas of the Punjab where protestors took to streets and registered their protest. However, police and other law enforcement agencies let the protestors ransack the public and private property, Geo News reported Monday. In Faisalabad, demonstrators blocked Samundri Road and protested against unannounced power cuts while factory owners reached Mepco’s office. Protests also took place in Gojra and Mandi Bahauddin where demonstrators blocked the main intersection. In Sargodha, angry residents of the suburban areas damaged Wapda office where police were called to disperse the crowd and control the situation. The protestors in Chakwal blocked the Lahore-Islamabad motorway. They burnt flags of a political party and chanted slogans against the government. A large number of students also resorted to protest against power outages in Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blocked the Dir-Afghanistan highway. On Monday, frustrated with persistent loadshedding, enraged residents torched the city police station gate and several police motorcycles in Chicawatni. They also attacked an MNA’s house due to which police has registered a case against 1,200 persons and arrested ten others who were allegedly involved in the violence.