GUJAR KHAN, April 18: Residents of Jhelum blocked G.T. Road for around six hours on Sunday in protest against prolonged power cuts.
The blockade coincided with a complete strike by shopkeepers in Jhelum and Dina against imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT).
The protest came hours after violent agitation by an angry mob which torched several public offices and vehicles on Saturday.
A large number of people, many carrying batons and cricket bats started gathering at the Cantonment, Shandar and Jada intersections at around 11am on Sunday, suspending vehicular traffic on the national highway.
The protesters chanted slogans against the government and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, blaming them for the worsening energy crisis. They asked the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) officials to announce a schedule for load shedding and give an assurance in writing to follow it.
Jhelum’s District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Mohammad Azam said the protesters ended the road blockade at around 5:15pm after getting the assurance.
During the entire episode, police did not confront the charged people to avoid triggering violence.
On Saturday, a small group of people had blocked the G.T. Road before 12 noon and the police restored to baton charge in an attempt to restore traffic.
During the use of force, a youth leading the protest rally was allegedly beaten black and blue. The move ignited violence and an angry mob set fire to the buildings of Rescue 15, Iesco Sub-Divisional Office and the Fire Brigade in Dina. A fire engine, three tractors, a sewer cleaning machine and six motorcycles were also destroyed gutted.
Several policemen were reported injured in the clash.
However, the protest subsided at around 8pm and G.T. Road was opened to traffic.