Arrest warrants out for two LESCO officials

Officials are accused of issuing exorbitant electricity bill of Rs80,592 to a consumer in January 2015

LAHORE: A court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for two officers of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) for not complying with orders on a contempt petition.

A civil judge issued the warrants against Lesco Assistant Manager (Operations) Shahzeb Bhutto and Mozang Revenue Officer Abdul Waheed.

The officials were accused of issuing an exorbitant electricity bill of Rs80,592 to a consumer named Ghulam Mustafa in January 2015. The man went to court and challenged the bill, seeking strict action against the officers.

The judge ordered the respondents to issue the current bill on the basis of actual consumption of power units. The plaintiff was directed to deposit the bill amount forthwith.

Mustafa contended

However, another electricity bill of Rs71,915 was issued in February 2017 to the consumer by including the disputed amount of Rs71,706 in arrears. The actual bill for the month was just Rs209.

The petitioner filed a contempt petition, alleging that the respondent were reluctant to follow the court order as shown by the issuance of the bill with the amount in arrears.

The court summoned the officials but they did not turn up. The judge first issued bailable arrest warrants but the respondents did not turn up again. The judge finally issued non-bail able arrest warrant of the accused for April 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2017.