K-E to face music over electrocutions

Power division, Nepra move against power utility as per apex court orders

ISLAMABAD:

The power division and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) moved on Friday against K-Electric (K-E) over electrocution cases in Karachi in accordance with the orders issued by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court.

The board of directors of K-Electric is likely to meet on Monday to implement the apex court orders. The court had ordered the authorities concerned to register murder cases against the relevant K-E officials for the electrocution deaths in Karachi during the recent rains and that the name of Chief Operating Officer of the K-E, Moonis Alvi, should be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Ahsan had issued the orders, while hearing a case pertaining to the electrocution deaths and load-shedding in the metropolis at the apex court's Karachi registry.

Sources told The Express Tribune that an important meeting was held in the power division on Friday, relating to the implementation of the Supreme Court orders. The high-ups of the power division also held a meeting with Nepra officials in this regard.

The sources said that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Power Shahzad Qasim, additional secretary power Waseem Mukhtar, who is also a board member of the K-E, would visit Karachi on Saturday (today) on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The sources added that a board meeting of the K-E was expected to be scheduled on Monday on the call of the power division to take important decisions in light of the orders of the Supreme Court, regarding the electrocution cases in the city.

Nepra said in a statement that it had taken serious notice of the electrocution deaths in Karachi during rains in the months of July and August 2020, adding that an investigation committee headed by the director general (Monitoring & Enforcement) would proceed to Karachi and conduct investigation against the K-Electric to ascertain the facts and possible violations of Nepra laws.

“The Investigation Committee after completing the investigation shall submit a detailed report to the Authority for further appropriate action in accordance with law,” the Nepra statement said.

Earlier during the hearing of the case, Chief Justice Gulzar had stated that the city should not be without electricity for even a minute, warning that if load-shedding continued, the only places without power would be K-E offices and its officials' homes. The court had directed Nepra to take notice if the power supply in any area of the city was suspended.

"People are dying of electrocution. It appears the earth wire has been removed from the entire city," observed the CJP, adding that the K-E was only making money by investing in low-quality material. The court stated that a detailed audit of the company should be conducted, and it should be ready to face accountability.