PESHAWAR: Traders on Thursday observed a shutter down strike across the province against the recent hike in power tariff with political workers staging rallies to protest inflated electricity bills.

Holding banners and shouting slogans, the protesters set fire to power bills.

All major shopping centres and bazaars were closed in the provincial capital with traders hoisting black flags and banners there.

They warned they would announce a three-day shutter down strike if the government didn’t provide a tangible relief in power bills without delay.

The Qaumi Watan Party workers joined hands with traders and participated in a rally at the Chowk Yadgar. The protesters set power bills on fire and shouted anti-government slogans.

Political workers also stage street protests

The speakers, including Anjuman-i-Tajiran provincial president Malik Meher Ilahi, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s former president Haji Mohammad Afzal, Trader Alliance leader Ghulam Bilal and Peshawar Jewellers Association leaders, said at a time when the people were struggling to cope with record inflation, the government added to their misery by hiking power tariff.

The traders, whose protest against inflated power bills entered nine days on Thursday, gathered at the Chowk Yadgar and demanded of the federal government to withdraw an exorbitant increase in power tariff to address public unrest.

They urged political parties, especially members of former prime minister Shahbaz Sharif-led government, to join hands with them in the fight against “irrational” taxes in utility bills.

The speakers called on the government to come up with people-friendly policies and said free supply of electricity to government officials and others should come to an end in order to overcome energy shortages.

They said the Anjuman-i-Tajiran Pakistan would announce a three-day shutter down strike if the federal government did not withdraw heavy taxes in power bills immediately.

The speakers said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced electricity more than its needs but even then, its people were subjected to prolonged power cuts.

They said people were struggling to make ends meet amid record inflation and high electricity and petroleum rates. The speakers warned that things would lead to a civil war in the country.

They said privileges of the ruling elite had also caused people’s misery and therefore, they all should be withdrawn immediately.

The speakers demanded an end to the federal government’s loan agreement with the IMF.

They said the soaring energy prices had led to the closure of most industrial units and destruction of businesses in the country but the rulers were indifferent to the situation.

The speakers warned if the government didn’t take corrective measures, people would hold it accountable. They also feared civil disobedience by inflation-hit people.

The speakers said the federal government should immediately provide relief to the people by bringing down the prices of electricity, gas, petroleum products and food items.

Also, political activists demonstrated against inflated power bills in parts of the provincial capital.

The Awami National Party workers led by former minister Syed Aqil Shah held a protest and set fire to power bills, while Qaumi Watan Party provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao led a demonstration at the Chowk Yadgar.

The protesters held banners and placards and shouted slogans against the government. They demanded withdrawal of heavy taxes in power bills.

The QWP workers marched from the GT Road to the Chowk Yadgarvia theAshsraf Road.

Our correspondent from Battagram adds: The Jamaat-i-Islami held a multiparty conference at the Markaz Islami in the area to discuss the recent hike in electricity tariff.

The speakers, including PTI’s Fida Mohammad, QWP’s Nisar Mohammad, JUI- F’s Mufti Nisar, Mufti Shafi and Ghulam Akbar, trader union president Abdul Ghaffar Deshani, district bar association president Ameer Mohammad Khan, Himayatullah and Anwar Baig, called for people’s unity to address serious national challenges.

They said it was not the time to play negative politics and blame game.

The speakers said the country’s political leadership should lead the nation out of the current crises.

They said it was the responsibility of everyone to strive to put the country on the right track.

The speakers called for across-the-board accountability over massive corruption in the country.

They decided that all-out efforts would be made for the success of Saturday’s wheel jam and shutter down strikes against exorbitant power bills, especially the imposition of new taxes.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2023