Led by district organiser Zafar Khattak, Provincial Secretary for Information Zahid Hassan Mohmand, Syed Ishtiaque Ali Shah and Arshad, hundreds of protesters staged a rally in the provincial metropolis.
Holding banners inscribed with statements against the government, the demonstrators gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club. Addressing the rally, the PTI leaders said the government had no legitimacy to rule if it could not resolve public problems. They said despite the maximum electricity production, the province was faced with the worst kind of loadshedding.
In Battagram, PTI leader Bara Khan was detained early in the morning but despite his detention, the PTI workers protested at the City Chowk against the power crisis. The police baton-charged the protestors, causing injuries to a dozens of the activists. The police also detained 25 other PTI activists, including students and youth wing workers.
In Nowshera, protesters held a demonstration at Shobra Chowk after a procession in the main bazaar. The activists of the PTI also staged protest against the unscheduled loadshedding in Swabi.
Led by provincial president of the PTI Asad Qaisar, the protesters marched through various roads at the main bazaar in Topi tehsil. Chanting slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), the protesters gathered at the general bus stand.
Speaking to the protesters, the PTI leaders said the government had failed to reduce the loadshedding hours and was not serious in resolving the issue. Asad Qaiser condemned the baton-charge on the peaceful protesters in Battagram and demanded immediate release of detainees and swift action against the policemen involved.
The office-bearer congratulated party workers for successful protests across the province He said the protests against the government would gather momentum if unprecedented loadshedding continued.
In Karak district, the PTI workers led by district organiser Altaf Qadir advocate marched in the main bazaar and staged a sit-in at the front of Wapda office. They said the Awami National Party-led provincial government failed to honour its election manifesto of free units. The protest rally started from the PTI office and ended in front of the Pesco office after marching through various bazaars. The protestors locked the Pesco offices and blocked the Shaggi road for all kinds of traffic for two hours.
In Doaba, Hangu district, the PTI activists’ protest was led by its district organisers Abdul Wali and Zahoor Shakir. In Kohat, the protesters gathered at King Chowk, led by district organiser Jaseem Khan, to protest against the loadshedding.