The electric supply company issued a list on March 24 of former federal ministers who were guilty of not paying their bills. The list included more than 21 names and included former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khosa and Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza.
Malik tops the list owing the company over Rs4.7 million. Khosa’s outstanding arrears total over Rs0.4 million while Mirza owes over Rs0.3 million to the electric supply company.
Former Chairman Senate and former Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek is in debt of over Rs0.3 million. Other defaulters include former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Former federal ministers Firdous Ashiq Awan, Sameera Malik, Sumsam Bukhari, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Ghous Bakhsh Mehar and Faisal Karim Kundi.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sent the list to provincial election commissioners who will keep record for further investigation.
The ECP had earlier announced that anyone who is guilty of outstanding utility bills will not be eligible to participate in the upcoming polls.
Various authorities have now gained pace and are formulating list of defaulters to enable recovery of the payment before the elections.
COMMENTS (41)
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I will say in short, shame on all you defaulter guys, how we people cast vote for you ? you can't pay yours utility then how we can expect from you ? Especially rehman malik you already put people in trouble who are waiting for passport and applicants came to know due to financial shortage printing machines and papers ran out. Rehman Malik pay your bills first from our money.
I say disconnect their respective utility. If electricity bill is not paid, disconnect electricity. In case of ex prime minister Shaukat Aziz, he is no more living in Pakistan . Auction his house for the amount of bill. You will get paid before the the sun set on that day.
to be elected or not is another matter to be paid the bills is more important ....but my perception is that they will never ever pay their dues any will contest the election.
They should impose heavy fines along with the bill.
These amounts are peanuts. All these people would happily pay these amounts if they bring any goodwill to their name.
so what we still support them and we will again elect them as our new leaders. speak for a change
Wierd, I thought IESCO cuts your power if you haven't paid your bill for 2 consecutive months. Pakistan proves yet again uniterrupted Power is only for the ones who has power.
shame
@Blithe:
Shocking? You must be joking or living in a different country or universe.
Thank you Express Tribune for showing the real faces of electricity defaulters of all those people who until yesterday were every thing and today nothing.
They are the people who by not paying their electricity bills have brought shame for themselves and have also brought shame for their family members.
@ahmed: We do not need emotional slogans. We need concrete plans for building the country. We sent or voted for too many thieves to the parliment. People must be wise this time and do not send these crooks and loan defaulters to the parliment again.
So she can afford Birkin bags but not afford to pay her electricity dues?
@Muslim Leaguer: @Falcon:
And Anjum Aqeel is still in PML-N.
Mr. R. Malik et al. c/o Islamabad or London or New York
Kindly pay the following bills otherwise we cannot pay our bill (circular debt you know!)
Electric bill to Electric wala Milk bill to Milk-wala Water bill to Pani wala Phone bill to Mobile wala School bill to School wala Income Tax to Revenue wala Medicine bill to Dawa-wala Gas bill to Gas-wala
With all these unpaid bills what do you think is the 'MUSTAQ-BILL' of the country?
And people wonder why their country is in so much trouble. Good keep electing the same corrupt officials, you deserve this.
I'll vote for anybody, but not Nawaz Sharif
If skipping power bills payments makes them a defaulter, does them disqualify from seeking elections? Malik was the most powerful of the group and has the highest amount overdue. That reminds me of Lord Acton's saying: " Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
If your brain functions accurately and can tell the difference between right and wrong and you can understand what your brain is telling you then you'd only vote for the RIGHT guy i.e. Imran Khan and PTI but if you want to be ruled by the corrupt who keep putting their own interests ahead of Pakistan's then by all means vote for others and they WILL make you pay for your mistake.
If this is true, this is theft. HRK's husband owes millions in power dues which he now pays in installments that are ridiculously low.
These people should face a life time ban on holding any public office.
Please save us from these thugs.
After the shocking performance of the previous government, is any revelation shocking to us anymore? These politicians can't sink any lower. They are the worst of the worst of humans in the world today.
What have these politicians done for us? Everyone blames the dictators which is fine, but lets ask ourselves what these politicians did for us?
Irrespective of which party or group these politicians are affiliated with, their electricity should have been disconnected.
Why are there different standards for the common ppl & the elected reps? These ppl are supposed to work & safeguard the interests of the people. Let alone the remotest of possibility that they actually even tried doing that its quite pathetic that they do not even pay their bills.
All people arms up in air and say "Jiyeee Bhuttoooo"!!!!
@Muslim Leaguer: Last time I checked, Ittefaq foundry was one of the biggest commercial electricity defaulters as per LESCO. Secondly, oaths work when person taking the oath has a clean record himself...
@Adnan: French Revolution happened in 1789, In Pakistan hopefully its in 2013.
Excellent move by ECP! I suggest to these power companies to charge compound interest on the amounts outstanding since non-payment coupled with heavy penalties!
@ Jibran
You shouldn't be surprised because PML-N has a robust accountability mechanism. PML-N is the first party in Pakistan to get rid of bogus degreeholders (some of them like Faiz Tamman were picked up by PTI), tax/loan defaulters and even Dual Nationality holders.
Nawaz Sharif has already taken oath from prospective candidates on the above lines. In 2008, he had taken oath from his party ticket holders to work for independence of judiciary and by leading the Long March from the front on 15th March 2009 he fulfilled his promise to the Nation.
Please let us know about these kind of thieves from other political parties. I am sure they have a lot of saints like these one too. Thanks
Does this bill include penalty and interest amount? If not please add that amount. Add interest at the rate of 24%.. This is the rate which is charged by the credit card companies. If they still do not pay , disconnect the electricity connection. If they still do not pay ,confiscate their property.
Strage but true. Most of them relating to PPP
@asim: dont worry if that is required to contest the elections thenthey will happy pay the dues. paying less than 1% of what you made all this time is win win situation.
What's interesting is that not a single soul of PML-N is listed in this news item. Being Pakistani, I know Pakistanis, and I don't think PML-N leaders are such a saint. Nice try ET.
Rehman malik rocks
If these people have any self-respect then they should not contest elections before clearing their dues. But I doubt they do!
When are we going to learn from our mistakes???...this is all OUR fault...we send these people to the parliament....hope we learn this time not to send thief in the parliament Vote Wisely - for the sake of a good future for our kids.
If any one flies out of the country SC - CJ, military establishment will be responsible
My parents lives in Karachi and travelled most of the last year, so naturally the house was close and no electricity consumed. When they came back, they were greeted by a bill of more Rs.100,000/-. The electricity authority was of the view that because the meter was not moving, they were sending bill on average. My father went to the electricity office to get the things sorted, and he was asked to pay the bill or otherwise the electricity will be disconnected. The advise was given to him was to display on the main gate that the residents of the house are away from such and such date (which is more of an invitation for more trouble and loss). This is not only our story but story of thousands in our Country. The electricity will be disconnected even if bill is not paid for the amount wrongly billed to common man, but for the politicians default of millions is not a big issues
Indeed, the best revenge.
Not to mention HRK hasnt paid CDA dues on the hotel she parts owns in Saidpur village.
This is shocking!