KHYBER: The ongoing protest against the theft of wires from the high transmission line of electricity in Tehsil Bara has intensified, affecting the lives of the general public.
Local protesters have completely closed the Pak-Afghan Highway to all types of traffic at the Detour Road, as a result of which cross-border trade and local movement has been severely affected.
According to eyewitnesses and local sources, valuable electricity wires from the high transmission line and copper coils from transformers were removed for the past several days in different areas of Bara, including Sipah, Shalubar and Akakhel.
These organized incidents by unknown thieves have plunged dozens of villages into darkness, while the local administration and police still seem to be unable to trace these thieves.
Long queues of vehicles have formed on the Pak-Afghan Highway due to the protests. The closure of the highway has had the greatest impact on students and employees.
Hundreds of students could not reach their schools and colleges, while employees of government and private institutions are facing severe difficulties in going to their duties. Protesters say that on the one hand, they are enduring long load shedding for several hours, and on the other hand, thieves have also cut off the remaining electricity supply.
The protesters have categorically demanded that the highway will not be opened until the stolen wires are recovered and the thieves are arrested. They allege that due to the alleged negligence of the police, the thieves are emboldened, and they are damaging valuable government property in the dark of night.
On the other hand, the closure of commercial trucks due to the suspension of traffic is causing a daily loss of millions of rupees. Commuters, especially women and children, had to remain stranded on the roads for several hours, creating a humanitarian crisis-like situation in the area. Local elders have appealed to the government and higher authorities for immediate intervention to restore electricity and improve the law and order situation.
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