World | Pakistan
Riots break out in Pakistani city over power cuts
A crowd protesting power cuts rioted in the home city of Pakistan's new prime minister on Monday, ransacking the office of the state electricity company, torching a bank and leaving at least 13 people injured.
- AP
- Published: 14:38 April 14, 2008
Multan: A crowd protesting power cuts rioted in the home city of Pakistan's new prime minister on Monday, ransacking the office of the state electricity company, torching a bank and leaving at least 13 people injured.
Several hundred men marched to the office of the Water and Power Development Authority in Multan to protest power cuts that the city's textile industry said were killing
business.
Some protesters stormed the office, dragged furniture into the front yard and set it ablaze along with several motorcycles. About a dozen cars and buses and a nearby bank building were also set on fire.
The protest was organised by a textile industry association, which had set Sunday as a deadline for the electricity company to reduce power outages.
Mirza Muhammad Ali, the regional police chief, said 10 staffers for the power company were injured before armed colleagues drove the protesters back. He said three protesters were also hurt.
Police also fired guns into the air and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters. Ali said they made almost 40 arrests.
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