Two more die amid loadshedding protests

LAHORE: Violent protests against prolonged loadshedding continued across Punjab on Tuesday where demonstrators did not hesitate to attack the houses of MNAs and MPAs. Two more protesters also lost their lives in fresh riots, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to sources, enraged residents attacked the house of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) MNA Riaz Fatiana in Kamalia, and as a result, his guards resorted to firing that killed two protesters and injured eight others.

The traders and citizens in Kamalia blocked the Kamalia-Faisalabad Road and suspended traffic while the city is observing complete shutter-down strike against power outages. Several shops near general bus stop were damaged by the angry crowd.

PPP MNA Begum Husnain’s house was also surrounded by the crowd due to which the security staff opened fire on them. More than 15 people were injured in the clashes. Later, the infuriated crowd also set ablaze three police mobiles and a DSP’s vehicle.

Protest demonstrations also took place in Multan where the shops were forced to close and the protesters blocked Qadirpur and Multan roads. Police, at the occasion, baton charged the crowd.

Khanewal is also observing complete shutter down strike after a protester was killed when the private guards of Adviser to Prime Minister Ahmad Yar Hiraj and chairman of Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) MNA Hamid Yar Hiraj of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, opened direct fire on the protesters from the rooftop of their residence, situated in the Civil Lines, Khanewal.

After the sad incident, situation in the city became very tense and people, including traders and students, staged a demonstration against the killings.

Civilians continued to protest against the power crisis in various areas of Punjab including Dera Ghazi Khan, Chiniot, Bahawalpur and Vihari.