Sindh blames Centre for electrocution deaths

The federal government is responsible for the deaths caused by electrocution in the province, claimed Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ali Shaikh.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Shaikh maintained that the Sindh government had warned K-Electric, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electrical Power Company (SEPCO) about the risks of electrocution ahead of the monsoon rains, but none of them took any precautions beforehand.

"Many precious lives have been lost due to the incompetence and negligence of the federal agencies," he said.

Shaikh further lashed out at the Centre for failing to keep the Sindh government in the loop, stating that there was no point in the presence of a federal minister inside the Governor House, in a reference to a meeting held by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, which included Federal Energy Minister Omar Ayub.

He pointed out that administrative powers were held by the provincial chief minister, not the governor, adding that the federal government appeared nonchalant about preventing load-shedding, over-billing and incidents of electrocution in Sindh.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with HESCO and SEPCO officials regarding the supply of electricity to their relevant districts, Ismail said these power utilities should address complaints by elected representatives pertaining to improving their efficiency and power supply system on a priority basis.

Further, he stated that he would soon visit the districts in question with the federal energy minister. According to the governor, the meeting's purpose was to resolve problems by bringing elected representatives and power utilities together.

Ayub, who was also present, claimed the federal government would take all possible steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to citizens.

Meanwhile, MPAs from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Grand Democratic Alliance and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan maintained that the lives of the citizens in these districts had been made miserable due to prolonged load-shedding, technical faults and other issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2020.