JI stages sit-in against power outages in Karachi

KARACHI (92 News) – Following intermittent disruption in power supply which added to the miseries of Karachiites who are already experiencing harsh weather conditions and sleepless nights due to the same reasons, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami staged sit-ins at Shahra e-Faisal, Malir and Orangi Town against the power outages on Friday. The protesters blocked Shahra-e-Faisal and other busy arteries of the city, creating problems to the commuters. The call for the sit-in was given by JI chief Sirajul Haq over prolonged and unannounced load-shedding and water crisis being faced by Karachiites. The protests by JI workers in Lyari caused private schools to shut down. A contingent of police and Rangers were then deployed at Sharah-e-Faisal to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. On the other hand, Anjman-e-Tajran, Sindh High Court and Karachi Bar will join the sit-in. A surge in the temperature in the city has increased demand for and use of electricity and a simultaneous increase in unprecedented and unannounced power suspensions. So far, the K-Electric (K-E) administration has failed to counter the power predicament. The city is experiencing seven and a half hour-long announced power suspensions, but with the rise in the temperature, the power suspensions have surpassed 12 hours in some areas.