ISLAMABAD: Bitten by one inflated bill after another, people from all walks of life on Friday protested in major cities of the country against apathy of the government.
People turned up in droves in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and elsewhere to let loose their indignation at the authorities for receiving inflated power bills for the last two to three months.
One obvious reason for higher than expected bills is the recent increase in per unit price in line with the commitments the government has made with the IMF. The situation has been exacerbated by additional taxes and consequent public distrust of the officials.
At most places the demonstrations were led by traders who refused to pay electricity bills which, they said, were beyond their reach. They demanded that the government reduce the additional taxes.
KARACHI
People from various callings staged protest demonstrations in several parts of Karachi. The public protested against K-Electric in front of Jama Cloth Market. Traders also participated in the protest.
The protesters, holding banners, posters and placards inscribed with slogans against K-Electric, chanted slogans. Activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami also led a protest.
LAHOR
Several areas of the provincial capital, Lahore, saw protests on Friday. The protesters raised slogans against the governmnet for burdening the masses with heavy taxes in the bills and demanded an immediate reduction in the electricity cost.
PESHAWAR
People of Peshawar also protested against expensive electricity and inflated bills. Residents of Gulbahar and other areas protested at Anam Sanam Chowk where they burnt electricity bills. They said unannounced loadshedding and excessive taxes in bills were intolerable.
RAWALPINDI
Citizens protested against the high cost of electricity near Liaquat Bagh. The protestors flashed electricity bills and refused to pay these. The government should take measures, they said, to reduce the cost of electricity. They warned of converting the protest into a movement if the grievance went unheeded.
KASUR
Similarly, protests were held in Kasur where citizens burnt the electricity bills near Masjid Noor Chowk. A number of citizens, holding pamphlets against electricity bills and inflation, cried out for relief.
Protests were also held in Narowal, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan and other parts of Punjab. In RYK, the protesters took out a rally from Dua Chowk to Mepco office by raising black flags – a symbol of protest.
