More than 2,000 farmers on Friday organised a rally under the auspices of Pakistan Kisan Board against the issuance of inflated electricity bills for tube-wells. The demonstration was supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Protestors staged a sit-in in front of Mepco offices in Multan, forcing the electricity utility’s management to call in police for help. The rally, led by Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar, Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar a candidate for MNA and Sheikh Aamir Khalil of PTI, originated from Madni Park and passed through various streets, including Shah Rukn-i-Alam, New Multan and Masoom Shah Roads.
Addresing the protestors, leaders of farming community said that farmers had received electricity bills ranging between Rs 150,000 and Rs 200,000 despite power outages lasting at least 16 hours every day. Criticising Mepco authorities, farmers said that the utility’s management was not ready to redress their grievances.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012
