…As Tesco moves to install electricity meters to each household
LANDIKOTAL: Political leaders and civil society members on Sunday staged a protest demonstration in Landikotal bazaar to record their protest against the electricity black out that irked life of citizens in Landikotal.
The protesters were holding black flags,banners and chanted slogans against Tesco and Landikotal grid station officials.
Speaking on the occasion Awami National Party Landikotal president Shah Hussain Shinwari, JUI-F senior leader Mufti Muhammad Ejaz Shinwari, Tehsil Chairman Shah Khakid Shinwari,JI leader Murad Hussain Afridi, Village chairman Azizullah,Haji Ilyas Shinwari,Amir Nawaz,Kalimullah Shinwari, PPP leader Shah Rehman Shinwari,Aftab Shinwari, Maulana Mujahid Shinwari,Shakir Afridi,Mustaqil Afridi, PTI leader Zarbullah Shinwari and Landikotal traders union president Muhammad Jafar Shinwari said that tribal Electricity Supply Company(TESCO) and local authorities failed to work on the agreement done between Tesco and local jirga last week.
They said that Tesco want to install electricity meters to each household before uninterrupted electricity to Landikotal. The speakers added that until and unless they not provide them six hours electricity a day they would not allow anyone to install digital electricity meters in Landikotal.
Mufti Ejaz said that they were assured to provide them at least six hours electricity in Landikotal to run their tubewells and fulfill the needs.
He said if Tesco and local administration do not meet the mutual agreement in two days they would be compelled to cut off the 132 KV electricity line in Landikotal.
Shah Hussain said that a numbers of times Tesco gave them schedules for the provision of electricity supply in Landikotal but they violated. He threatened to continue their protest if their genuine demand of provision of at aleast six hours electricity not accepted.
It may be added here that Tesco officials hold public meetings in Landikotal and Jamrud Tehsils in Khyber district and urged the citizens to accept electricity meterization in the district for each household so that they could be provided electricity round the clock.However, citizens had rejected the electricity meterization by arguing that tribal people were poor and could not afford to pay electricity bills. They also demanded the government to ensure best possible business and trade oppprtunities for tribals so that they could be able to pay utility bills.
