The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) sought a first information report (FIR) against PTI MPA Fazal Elahi after he allegedly led protesters inside Peshawar’s Rehman Baba Grid Station and forcibly activated feeders.
A statement from Pesco said Elahi surrounded the grid station with the protesters and later entered it to “forcibly” activate nine feeders considered “high loss feeders” with losses on them due to electricity theft and non-payment of dues over 80 per cent.
It added that a heavy police contingent was also present at the scene.“Operation is going on to reduce the losses on the mentioned feeders by Pesco,” the statement said.
Elahi earlier said while addressing the crowd, “We will continue to protest outside the grid station unless the power is restored.” He further warned that the demonstrators would take control of the grid station if their demands were not met.
“If the matter is not resolved here, we will shut down Sheikh Muhammadi Grid station,” he threatened. “We will close the power there and cut off the electricity supply to the whole area.”The MPA said the protesters were “demanding their rights” and urged PTI workers to “drag their MPAs in front of grid stations”.
The protest came to an end after the demonstrators received assurances that Pesco would reduce prolonged power cuts. Elahi announced the end of the rally after negotiations between the demonstrators, Assistant Commissioner Haroon Saleem and Pesco executive engineer Alam Zeb proved successful.
A Dawn.com correspondent present at the negotiations said Zeb assured the protesters that loadshedding would not exceed 10 hours and that feeders in the area would be supplied with adequate power.
Once the negotiations were finalised, Elahi announced the end of the rally and protesters dispersed. While negotiating with the Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials, Elahi promised to take action against power theft. “We will eradicate power theft from the neighbourhood,” he vowed.
Elahi also said that he stood with the Water and Power Development Authority, which he said was “short-staffed right now”.
