Protests against CNG pumps shutdown, gas price hike continue

TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Protest against the shutdown of CNG stations and recent hike in natural gas price continued for the second consecutive day, as protestors blocked all the main roads of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday.

The protestors burnt tyres at Faizabad, Muree Road, Rehman Abad, Bara Khu and other areas during the strike announced by compressed natural gas (CNG) dealers and transporters against the recent hike in the gas price. The government recently increased gas prices for domestic, industrial, commercial sector sectors by 14 percent and for CNG sector by 30 percent.

Hundreds of people took to roads in the twin cities and held protest demonstrations for the second consecutive day against shortages and hike in the gas prices. The protestors pelted the police with stones on the main highway linking Islamabad to Rawalpindi. Police resorted to fire plastic bullets to disperse the protesters. However, luckily no causality was reported in the incidents.

Long queues were witnessed of private vehicles waiting for hours at CNG stations for filling CNG at their vehicles, as public transport remained off the roads in the twin cities. CNG suspension for the past three days along with transporters' strike ignited violent protests by stranded commuters that crippled the routine life in and around Islamabad.

Gas load shedding under the load management program has made life miserable for the students and office staff who are unable to reach their destination. Taking advantage of the situation, taxi drivers kept over charging the passengers who had no other way to travel. Additional security has been deployed in the affected areas to keep the situation under control.