Families of electrocution victims seek compensation

Police tell court KE higher ups have gone into hiding

KARACHI: The families of three citizens who were killed by electrocution during the recent rains in Karachi, submitted their plea for compensation in the Sindh High Court on Tuesday.

The plea was filed by advocate Usman Farooq, on behalf of the families of Saad, Umar and Araaf. The plea maintained that dozens of citizens had died from electrocution during rainfall in Karachi but the government did not take any action against K-Electric (KE). It argued that the police did not arrest anyone even when cases were registered. The petitioner prayed the court that KE should be ordered to pay Rs50 million to each aggrieved family in compensation.

Police report

Meanwhile, Darakshan Police listed the CEO and owner of KE as well as others as accused on the run in the information report submitted on Tuesday before a local court.

The report was submitted in the court after a delay of 12 days. The court was hearing the case pertaining to the deaths of three youngsters due to electrocution in the jurisdiction of Darakshan Police Station.

The police sought an extension of 14 days to arrest the accused. The court granted the extension and directed the police to arrest the accused and produce them before the court.

The report submitted by the police states that three youngsters, Faizan, Hamza and Talha, died due to electrocution on August 11 within the jurisdiction of Darakshan Police Station. The case pertaining to the incident was registered against KE's owner, Arif Naqvi, KE CEO Moonis Alvi, chairperson Ikram Sehgal and others, on August 13, on behalf of Hamza's father, Tariq Mehmood.

The report stated that the accused have gone into hiding and an extension should be given for their arrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2019.