Gas theft: SHO directed to record statements

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge on Monday directed the Baghbanpura SHO to record the statements of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) officials and proceed in accordance with law in 15 petitions seeking the registration of gas theft cases. The SNGPL officials have filed a total 65 petitions seeking the registration of cases in Baghbanpura area. Earlier, the SNGPL had filed 86 similar petitions.

At previous proceedings, the judge had disposed of 48 petitions with same directions. On Monday, the judge disposed of 15 more petitions. Petitioners Sharafat Ali Chaudhry, Waqas Bukhari, Iftikhar Akbar and several other SNGPL officials said that they had four people stealing gas in Baghbanpura during inspection visits. They said that most of the accused were stealing gas for their factories, foundries and some were supplying it to houses. They said that the accused were stealing the gas from a main pipeline, which was then repaired. The petitioners then went to the Baghbanpura police station to register FIRs against the accused. However, the SHO did not accept their request, they said.

They requested the court to direct the SHO to register the FIRs.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.