In flames: SSGC staffer arrested, 8 booked in explosion case

Nine people were killed after leak went ignored.

SUKKUR:

The police arrested an assistant manager from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Wednesday and registered a case against eight SSGC officials with reference to the gas explosion which took place last month.

Reportedly, the SSGC officers had failed to repair a gas pipe leak in Ghulam Shabbir Sherwani’s house in Hashmi Muhalla.

This gas leak resulted in an explosion on June 26 and injured 11 members of the family.

The severely burnt family was taken to Civil Hospital for first aid. They were later shifted to Civil Hospital, Karachi where nine of the family members passed away. “My sister-in-law Farzeen and nephew Muhammad Ahmad are still alive but in critical condition,” said Rehan, who lost his parents and siblings because of the explosion.

Talking to The Express Tribune about what happened after the incident, Rehan claims “that no SSGC official or elected representative got in touch with him.” He added that the federal minister for religious affairs, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, who is from the Sukkur district, paid him a visit on Wednesday. “After he condoled with me for my loss, Shah ordered the police to register a case against the SSGC officers,” he said.

Following the minister’s orders, the police have registered a case against the SSGC officers and officials, including their regional manager Fayaz Shaikh, Sukkur area manager Aziz Abro, deputy managers Syed Azeem Ali Shah and Abdul Wahid Khoso.

The police have also arrested assistant manager Jawed Abbasi. When contacted, Abro claimed that he could not comment as SSGC officials had asked him not to do so.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd,  2011.