Loadshedding sparks rioting in Multan

MULTAN—Scores of agitated people came on to the streets protesting against prolonged electric outages in the city for the past one month. While the police has arrested 44 people in this connection The angry mob came out on the streets of Multan Monday morning protesting against prolonged load shedding and cordoned off the Multan Electricity power company office (MEPCO) and subjected the MEPCO employees to torture and setting scores of vehicles and motorbikes on fire.
More than 2000 baton wielded workers and owners of Power loom attacked WAPDA office in New Multan area T Chowk and Punjab Bank and hurled stones besides burning the furniture. The mob also ransacked the office of MEPCO Chief Executive Tariq Rasool at Khanewal Road and broke the windows. The private security guards of MEPCO started aerial firing to control the mob as a result a camera man of a private TV channel Mohsin also got injured.
Later on as the police arrived at the scene and controlled the situation by also firing aerial shots and arrested 44 people. Inspector General Police Punjab Azhar Hassan Nadeem has said strict action would be taken against those who were involved in violence in Multan.

—Agencies