K-Electric’s Late-Night Power Outages Spark Protests; Police Use Baton Charge
Late-night power outages by K-Electric have ignited a wave of protests across various parts of Karachi, as residents grapple with intense heat and frequent power cuts.
Areas Affected
Neighborhoods including Old City Area, Garden West, Allah Wala Town, Korangi, Nishtar Road, Jahangir Road, Liaquatabad, Malir, and others are bearing the brunt of both scheduled and unscheduled load shedding. Despite directives from the Sindh government to mitigate the issue, K-Electric continues to enforce these late-night outages, exacerbating the situation for residents.
Prolonged Outages
Power cuts have become a routine occurrence from 2 AM onwards, compounding the struggle for Karachi’s citizens who already face up to 10 hours of load shedding during the day. The ongoing disruptions have heightened frustrations as residents endure sleepless nights without electricity in the sweltering heat.
Protests and Police Response
In a display of public outrage, residents took to the streets late at night to protest against the prolonged power outages. Protesters blocked Nishtar Road by burning tires, voicing their anger over the unrelenting power cuts. The situation escalated when some demonstrators began throwing stones at the police, resulting in damage to a police vehicle.
The police responded by using baton charges, shelling, and firing to disperse the crowd and clear the road. The confrontations have intensified tensions between the residents and authorities, as the community demands a resolution to the power crisis.
Residents’ Frustration
Local residents expressed their exasperation, highlighting the compounded difficulties of enduring regular load shedding during the day only to face additional outages at night. One resident lamented:
“Even with the scheduled load shedding, we’re still left without electricity at night. How are we supposed to cope with this in such unbearable heat?”
Urgent Calls for Action
The protests reflect a growing demand for immediate action to address the power outages. Citizens are urging K-Electric and the Sindh government to find a sustainable solution to the electricity crisis that has significantly impacted daily life and well-being in Karachi.
Quote from a Resident:
“We are already struggling with hours of load shedding in the daytime. These unannounced cuts at night are making our lives miserable. We need a solution, and we need it now.”
The continued power outages and the subsequent protests underscore the urgent need for effective measures to stabilize electricity supply in Karachi. As residents and authorities grapple with the fallout from these disruptions, the demand for reliable power and responsive governance remains at the forefront of community concerns.
Key Points:
- Widespread late-night power outages across Karachi.
- Protests erupted in various neighborhoods, leading to confrontations with police.
- Residents demand a resolution to the persistent electricity issues.