PTI lawmaker adopts unique way of protesting against electricity bills

Sajid Nawaz wore a garland of electricity bills to lodge protest at NA

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Sajid Nawaz Khan on Thursday adopted a strange way of protesting against 'fake' electricity bills at the National Assembly.

MNA PTI Sajid wore a 'garland' of electricity bills to lodge a protest against high electricity prices in his constituency. Sajid then moved an amendment titled ‘The Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2018' during the session.

His amendment suggested that the consumers who can't pay excessive bills must be awarded amnesty schemes and their outstanding dues should be waived.

However, it was rejected as 47 lawmakers of treasury benches voted against it and only 29 votes went in favour.

While sharing the salient features of his amendment, he said that Nawaz Sharif was wearing bills of Rs20 million. He added that all the bills were the ones on which power consumers have been charged, despite the fact that these consumers had no electricity meters.



The lawmaker then questioned since there are no electricity meters installed at consumers' residence, how is it possible that they are being heavily charged for electricity?

Minister of State for Power, Abid Sher Ali in response said that he is not convinced with the drama showcased by Sajid. He noted that that people are used to getting electricity without paying their bills.

Ali retaliatory remarked during the session that the PTI MNAs may also wear kundas to the assembly, using the local term for hooks used to steal power from electricity lines.

“This country is not meant for persons who have developed a habit of enjoying free lunch,” the PML-N minister stated on the floor of the House. His remarks then created ruckus in the House and all the lawmakers of PTI consequently stood up from their seats and protested against the sweeping comments passed by him.

Sajid while pleading his case requested the House to send his amendment to the relevant standing committee on the issue but his request was turned down by the treasury benches.