Police fail to act even after 9 FIRs registered against K-Electric

PTI MPA calls for measures to avoid such fatal incidents

KARACHI: At least two more cases were registered against K-Electric officials, taking the total number of cases against the power utility to nine. The latest two cases were registered in separate police stations - the first at the SITE Super Highway Police Station on Thursday night and the second at Baghdadi Police Station on Friday evening. Police have, however, failed to make a single arrest or present reports in any of the cases in court.

According to SITE Police, a case was registered against the KE’s administration for alleged negligence that resulted in the death of a nine-year-old, Zakir. The child was electrocuted as a result of faulty wiring at Wazir Goth on July 29, during the first spell of Monsoon rains in the city. The case, number 19/487, was registered on the complaint of the victim’s father, Ghulam Abbas.

The second case was registered at Baghdadi Police Station over the death of Umair, son of Ilyas, in Kharadar on August 11. The case, number 243/19, was registered on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Muhammad Ameen, who has nominated the KE’s CEO and other senior officials in the case. According to the complainant, the victim was electrocuted from live cables that were strewn on the footpath, due to which he died on the spot.

Earlier, Malir City Police had registered two separate FIRs over the deaths of two young boys who had died due to electrocution during the first spell of rains.

Police apathy

Two days after case of the electrocution deaths of three persons was registered at the Darakshan Police Station, police officials failed to submit the case report to the court.

The three young victims, identified as Faizan, Hamza and Talha Tanveer, had lost their lives after they were electrocuted from K-Electric wires on August 11.

On August 13, a case was registered on the complaint of Hamza’s father, Tariq Mehmood, in which the KE’s owner, Arif Naqvi, CEO Moonis Alvi and other officials have been named.

According to the law, the police are supposed to submit the case report of the incident in the court within 24 hours of its registration. However, police have neither arrested any of the nominated suspects nor submitted a report in any of the seven cases.

PTI MPA’s presser

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA and famous orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Imran Shah, has said that three children have been badly injured as a result of naked wires in his constituency. “I will consult the federal government in this regard,” he said, adding that he would seek measures through which fatal incidents occurring as a result of faulty installations and wiring of the K-Electric during events of rainfall may be avoided.

The PTI leader was addressing a press conference at the AO Clinic in North Nazimabad, where he was accompanied by the family members of 12-year old Adeel, who had sustained burns injuries due to electrocution.

According to Shah, the child had fallen prey to an electric shock as a result of a disjointed wire at the Five-Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad. The wires stuck to the child’s limbs and his body and face was badly affected as result. The news of the fallen wires had been reported at 2pm in the day but the K-Electric staff surprisingly did not reach the site.

“Adeel was brought with serious burns to the AO Clinic and we only thank God that doctors could save his life,” said Shah, adding that the child had suffered third-degree burns. The victim is the son of a fruit seller.

KE offers condolences

Meanwhile, the KE in a statement issued on Friday, said it was “deeply saddened by the unfortunate incidents which occurred during the recent torrential rain and sympathised with the affected families”.

According to the statement, the KE is extending full cooperation in the investigation process with various stakeholders including NEPRA. “The power utility reiterates that it remains committed to Karachi and will undertake required remedial measures in light of the investigation results. At the same time, KE will also be undertaking a network wide study to identify opportunities for infrastructure improvement so as to strengthen both reliability and safety of power supply,” the statement reads.

The power utility added that as per initial reports, the majority of the incidents either occurred inside homes through broken wires and internal equipment or due to non-KE infrastructure such as kundas and hanging lights. “In such cases where KE’s infrastructure and equipment is not involved, K-Electric is not responsible” the statement adds.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2019.