Gas Theft: PPP, PML-N lawmakers’ factories raided

The petroleum ministry launches a crackdown on ‘influential gas thieves’ before setting up of caretaker government.

The petroleum ministry has launched a crackdown on ‘influential gas thieves’ before the setting up of a caretaker government.

Raids were carried out on the mills of recently-elected PPP Punjab vice president Azizur Rehman Chan and PML-N MNA Roheel Ashghar Shaikh on the instructions of MD Sui Northern Pipelines Engineer Arif Hameed.

According to sources, the meters of the heavy steel industrial units, situated on Bund Road, have been sealed and submitted to laboratories.

SNGPL sources said both influential persons were involved in large scale theft of gas. Three industrial gas meters were taken into custody from Chan.

Sources said that gas amounting to Rs40 million per month was being stolen from these meters. Two industrial meters were taken into custody from the steel mills of Shaikh’s son.

The mill was stealing gas amounting to Rs2.5 million per month.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2013.