SADIQABAD
A protest demonstration was held against the prolonged gas loadshedding in various Sadiqabad areas especially Mazhar Farid Colony whose gas share has been diverted to Leghari Colony for months “under the influential people’s collusion with the officials”.
The residents took to the streets and chanted slogans against the local officialdom. The protesters criticised SDO Jam Saman and the people’s representatives of the area over their connivance and failure to address the grievance.
The residents including Hamid Mehmood, Sajid, Irfan, Shahid, Inam, Saleem, Salam, Intezar, Ramazan, Muhammad Ali, Lalu Bhai, Imran, Sadid Hussain and others said that their colony had been deprived of gas for many months. The residents disclosed that they repeatedly complained against the issue but to no avail.
When the victims dug out the place of main pipeline, it was revealed that the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s local personnel had diverted the gas shares of Mazhar Farid Colony to Leghari Colony, depriving the poor residents of the facility. They threatened to stage a sit-in if gas supply to their colony was not restored.
Meanwhile, loadshedding and low pressure of gas have made the citizens’ lives miserable as the students and employees have to leave for their respective destinations without taking breakfast. The lower strata of the society are unable to buy the costly breakfast from bazaar. Besides Mazhar Farid Colony, the other worst-hit areas include: Javed Colony, Mian Ghulam Rasool Colony, Warind Colony, Kacha Shahi Road and their suburban areas.  The perturbed citizens were of the view that the government has no right to increase the gas tariff amidst low pressure and prolonged loadshedding of gas.
The residents of these areas complained that the gas consumers had been sent inflated bills for the last three months. However, they said, had been paying those gas bills for the future of their children. Even then, they added, at the timings of food preparation, the students and labourers have to go to schools and workplaces without breakfast. They appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the SNGPL authorities to pay heed to the their grievances and ensure proper pressure of gas and end loadshedding immediately.