PESHAWAR: Residents of Charsadda Road took the streets against hours long power outage and demanded of the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the resident otherwise they would besiege the PESCO office and WAPDA house Peshawar.
Protests resumed early Wednesday morning outside the Daudzai Press Club, where enraged residents blocked both sides of the road, bringing all traffic to a complete standstill. The protest, which continued late into the previous night, had initially been paused after local police officials — including DSP Rural Fazal Qayum and SHO Khazana Sartaj Khan — held talks with demonstrators and convinced them to disperse peacefully. The officers assured the public that efforts were underway to address their grievances.
However, the calm proved short-lived. Just hours later, scenes of unrest re-emerged as frustrated citizens returned to the streets, reigniting their protest and once again shutting down Charsadda Road entirely. The demonstrators expressed deep frustration, citing unannounced power cuts that have disrupted their daily lives. “Businesses are collapsing, water has become scarce, and the relentless heat has pushed people to their breaking point,” said one protester. Residents accused the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of gross mismanagement and neglect, warning that if immediate action is not taken, the demonstrations will only grow more intense.
Police are attempting to defuse the situation, but the current circumstances suggest that the issue is far from resolved. Observers say the next 24 hours will be critical — either paving the way for a meaningful resolution or pushing the region into deeper unrest. Local citizens are demanding urgent and transparent reforms to the power supply system. They have called for strict accountability measures against WAPDA officials and steps to stop load-shedding schedule to prevent further chaos.
Read also:PESCO applies for FIR against police over alleged assault during power theft raids
