Armed men storm Bannu, Sarai Naurang grid stations: PESCO

Brothers of MPA Malik Pakhtunyar forced officials to switch on high-loss feeders

PESHAWAR:

Armed groups stormed power grid stations in Bannu and Sarai Naurang on multiple occasions last week, forcibly activating high-loss electricity feeders, prompting the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to warn of potential damage to the power infrastructure.

According to details, Malik Rahat and Malik Hikmat Yar, brothers of former provincial minister and current MPA Malik Pakhtunyar, entered the Bannu and Sarai Naurang grid stations with armed associates and forced officials to switch on high-loss feeders.

Pesco said that Malik Rahat stormed the Bannu Grid Station on June 24 and 25, at around 8pm, while Malik Hikmat Yar entered the Sarai Naurang Grid Station on June 27.

The utility claimed the groups remained at the facilities overnight to prevent officials from switching the feeders off, overloading the system and placing severe stress on grid transformers.

Pesco said it had sought registration of FIRs against the two men, but no cases had been registered.

The utility added that similar incidents had continued for years despite repeated complaints to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, the Bannu commissioner and the regional police officer.

Pesco warned that unchecked illegal feeder activation, coupled with rising electricity consumption and poor bill recovery, could trigger a major grid breakdown.