Missing metres: Residents decry rise in gas metre thefts

Locals believe members of relevant department are responsible for the theft

ISLAMABAD: The residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have complained against a sudden surge in the incidents of gas meters' theft alleging that the activity was being carried out in connivance with the relevant department's racketeers.

Malik Jamshed, a resident of Burma Town whose meter was stolen, said when his wife woke up early morning to prepare breakfast there was no gas in the stove. He said he thought it was load-shedding but he was astonished to know that his meter was lifted in the darkness of night. Jamshed said two more meters in a day light were also ripped-off from the locality and his neighbours Gulnawaz Abbasi and Malik Asif were among the victims. He also complained about the police's reluctance in registering an FIR against the culprits.

Another victim of the gas meter theft Chaudhry Rasheed, who resides in Khanna Daka locality of the capital, said he was not the only victim but many people in the area were deprived of their meters in a quick succession of time. He said people are now installing steel cages around their meters to lock them to ensure their safety. "Once a meter is stolen it is a herculean task to get a new-one installed to restore the facility," he remarked.

Hassan Nawaz, an advocate of the High Court whose meter was also lifted from outside his house in Shakriyal, Rawalpindi, said he submitted an application at the nearest police station against the relevant gas administration of the area and his new meter was fixed within a couple of days. He said "an ordinary thief cannot dare to sell the state's property because nobody is willing to buy it even a rag dealer." He termed it, the concerned department's black sheep's activity, who he said, may be reinstalling them for new subscribers in some other areas of the country to make money.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2018.