Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari has reached out to Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for urgent assistance in handling protests led by provincial assembly members at grid stations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a formal letter, he expressed concern that local police were failing to register cases related to these incidents.
According to the letter, protests orchestrated by responsible individuals have disrupted operations at grid stations in Mardan, Charsadda, Tank, Bannu, and Peshawar, citing severe power outages as the catalyst.
Leghari attached a report from the Chief Executive Officer of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) outlining the disruptions caused by these demonstrations.
The minister highlighted that provincial assembly members and others had unlawfully directed grid station staff to restore electricity, exacerbating line losses and electricity theft issues at affected feeders. This situation not only jeopardizes grid station security but also poses risks to staff safety.
He emphasized the urgent need for law enforcement agencies to tighten security measures at grid stations and ensure the safety of personnel. He called for stringent actions against unauthorized individuals attempting to enter grid stations and forcefully restore electricity.
Leghari also urged for immediate measures to prevent unauthorised access to grid stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded that cases be registered against those responsible for disrupting operations and threatening security.
Mohsin Naqvi, Ali Amin Gandapur meeting
Earlier on Wednesday, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing load shedding crisis in the province.
Chief Minister Gandapur raised his concerns with Minister Naqvi during the meeting, where both leaders agreed to continue consultations over the next two days to address the issue.
The talks primarily focused on the 12-hour load shedding affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They mutually agreed to resolve any misunderstandings through open dialogue and understanding.
Additionally, the KP Chief Minister assured Minister Naqvi regarding the security measures in place for grid stations across the province.
Minister Naqvi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to swiftly resolving the load shedding problem and emphasized the responsibility of ensuring security for all federal facilities.
