Karachi: Electricity riots spread all over the country on Tuesday after a power cut that lasted up to 20 hours.
Protesters gathered in the Kashmir city of Kotli where a shut-down strike was taking place by local traders. The protest was joined by local students in the centre of the city and they wanted to march towards the electricity installation when the police fired tear gas on the rally. The protesters retaliated by pelting stones and bricks at the police.
Protestors also set a motorcycle on fire at the grid station.
At least one policeman and several other protesters were injured in the scuffles.
In Faisalabad people came out on the roads to protest against the electric distribution company. Factory labourers, who are faced with unemployment, pelted stones on the offices of the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company. However, no injury was reported. Heavy contingents of police were deployed to control the situation.
In Khanewal district, protesters blocked the national highway which connects Lahore, Shorkot, Faisalabad and Sargodha. Long queues of trucks and buses were reportedly stuck on the highways.
In Sukkur district, students chanted slogans as the electricity of their school was cut off for the past week.
Residents of Sakrand observed a strike to protest against the power shortage.
Pakistan is now passing through the hottest season with temperatures reaching 47 degree Celsius in some parts, especially in the southern plains.
The ruling party is expected to present the national budget for the year ending June 2013. However, sources said the government has missed many of its fiscal and budget targets due to the serious energy crisis in the country. For the year ending June 2012, Pakistan may slip its economic growth target to mere 3.7 per cent instead of its target of 4.2 per cent.
