ISLAMABAD (AP) – Protests over skyrocketing power bills shut down a major road into Pakistan’s capital yesterday as some 3,000 supporters of a major party continued a sit-in despite pouring monsoon rains.
In Pakistan’s southwest, meanwhile, thousands protested against police violence, an internet shutdown and highway closures. At least one person was reportedly killed.
Protesters demanding that the government withdraw taxes on electricity to offset price hikes have occupied a road in the garrison city of Rawalpindi since Friday, as police prevented them from heading to the capital Islamabad.
Hoisting the white, blue, and green flags of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, the protesters chanted: “This cruel increase in electricity bills is not acceptable.”
The government has met with protest leaders, but given no indication that it is considering accepting their demands.
Head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party Naeem-ur-Rehman called for the protests, saying it’s prepared to remain on the streets for as long as it takes.
The government raised power prices 26 per cent during the last fiscal year, which ended on June 30, before tacking on another 20 per cent increase on July 13. Officials say the increases were needed to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a USD7 billion loan deal made earlier this month.
The government has also added a confusing bevy of taxes on top of the base price, adding up to a bill that has more than doubled for some Pakistanis.
Pakistani economist Ashfaque Hasan said another factor in costly power is a deal the government made in the 1990s to buy power from private companies at high prices.
“Pakistan and these independent power producing companies cannot co-exist,” Hasan said.
Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis have started using solar panels in recent years to avoid heavy electricity bills and power outages, although not everyone can afford the systems.
In Baluchistan province in Pakistan’s southwest, meanwhile, thousands protested against police violence, an internet shutdown and highway closures, community leaders said yesterday.
People had been heading across Baluchistan province a day earlier to take part in a mass gathering when security forces reportedly opened fire to disperse the crowds, according to a statement from the event organisers. At least one person was killed and seven were injured, they said.
