PESCO loses court challenge in electric shock case

IHC rules utility must pay for nine-year-old Lubaba's artificial hands and rehabilitation

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday dismissed a petition filed by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) challenging a presidential order directing it to bear the medical and rehabilitation expenses of a nine-year-old girl who lost both hands after an electric shock.

Justice Azam Khan ruled that PESCO must arrange a comprehensive medical assessment of the affected child, Lubaba, at the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFIRM), Rawalpindi, and pay for modern prosthetic limbs, treatment and rehabilitation. If the required prosthetic facilities are unavailable in Pakistan, the company must also bear the cost of treatment abroad.

In its ruling, the court observed that electricity distribution companies were responsible not only for ensuring an uninterrupted power supply but also for protecting human lives and meeting safety requirements.

PESCO had argued that its inquiry found no negligence on its part, claiming the incident resulted from an illegal direct connection rather than a fallen transmission line. However, the company acknowledged that numerous illegal connections existed in the affected area.

Lubaba suffered severe burns in July 2021 when an electricity line fell in Pir Qila, Charsadda, resulting in the amputation of both her hands and permanent disability.

The Federal Ombudsman directed PESCO on October 24, 2024, to pay compensation in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations. The complaint was initially upheld, but the findings requiring payment of compensation were subsequently withdrawn during review proceedings.

On October 30, 2025, the President's Office directed PESCO to arrange her treatment and prosthetic limbs. The company challenged the order, but the high court dismissed its petition, upholding the direction to provide the required assistance.