KARACHI:
Prolonged power outages amid scalding heat sparked vociferous protests in several neighbourhoods of the metropolis, particularly in Liaquatabad and Azizabad, where angry residents took to the streets late on Tuesday night. The roadblocks continued in early hours of Wednesday.
They blocked major thoroughfares by burning tyres and chanting slogans against the government and K-Electric, the city’s power utility.
The protests triggered traffic logjams on the major roads from Liaquatabad to Jahangir Road and from Jahangir Road to Ayesha Manzil, stretching from Shahrah-e-Pakistan and Jahangir Road to Guru Mandir.
According to protesters, the electricity supply had been suspended since 7pm on Tuesday. As temperatures soared, the absence of power compounded the suffering of residents, particularly affecting children, the elderly, and women. Many residents claimed they had repeatedly called K-Electric’s emergency helpline but received no response.
The protesters further said that the ongoing load-shedding had also caused a severe water shortage in the area. They lamented that sewers were overflowing, roads had been neglected for years, and that the basic utilities, including gas, were only available for limited hours – often requiring pressure pumps to function. They also expressed anger over receiving inflated electricity bills ranging from Rs6,000 to Rs10,000 for single-room homes despite the long hours of load shedding.
The atmosphere grew tense as residents warned that if their grievances remained unresolved, future protests could escalate. “Today we are burning tyres in protest; tomorrow, we may set ourselves on fire,” one protester remarked.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for K-Electric stated that the disruption was caused by a fault in the underground cable in the Liaquatabad C-1 area. “Our technical teams are working to repair the fault. We apologise for the inconvenience and appeal to citizens for their cooperation,” the spokesperson said. Power was eventually restored around 2.30am, bringing an end to the protests. Police then reopened the roads and restored traffic flow.
A similar protest erupted at Hussainabad Food Street in Azizabad, where residents blocked roads by burning tyres, causing traffic congestion. Protesters there also spoke about the double whammy: power outage and water shortage, criticising the government’s lack of action. “It is inhumane to treat Karachi – a city called the engine of national economy – in this way,” one resident said.
The protest at Hussainabad was called off after the SHO of local police station assured the demonstrators that he would take up their grievances with higher authorities to expedite the restoration of electricity.
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