Police baton-charge people protesting against 20-hour power shutdown in Karachi

KARACHI (92 News) - Police baton-charged people protesting against 20-hour power shutdown on Marri Road on Tuesday.

The protesters blocked the road for several hours. The police tear-gassed the protesters and resorted to aerial firing to disperse them.

The protesters played hide and seek with the police for four hours and continued to block road several times after being dispersed.

The police said that the K-Electric had inked an agreement with the protesters and subsequently electricity was restored. "After the talks, the protesters split into groups. The violent protesters leaked the oil tankers parked on the road and snatched the keys of the vehicles.

Owing to the protest, long queues of vehicles were seen on the road.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Sheikh contacted K Electric and said the law and order situation was worsening due to unannounced loadshedding.

K-Electric informed the minister that they were unable to operate the plant due to unavailability to purchase furnace oil. The minister demanded the federal government to immediately pay the dues and subsidies.

On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary said that the protest against the closure of electricity is justified. "The supporters of Zarddari and Murad Ali Shah cannot judge the agony of the people," he added. He asked the police not to torture the protesters.