MQM-P threatens street protests over prolonged power cuts

KARACHI:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmakers have threatened to launch protests against K-Electric over prolonged power outages in Karachi, alleging that residents are being subjected to outages lasting up to 18 hours a day despite paying exorbitant electricity bills.

In a statement issued from the party's Bahadurabad headquarters, the lawmakers expressed outrage over prolonged announced and unannounced load-shedding in the country's economic hub, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to the crisis.

They said Karachi contributed billions of rupees to the national exchequer every day, yet its residents were being deprived of electricity, a basic necessity. They also accused K-Electric of failing to honour its contractual commitments and licence conditions, alleging that its performance reflected incompetence and exploitation.

The lawmakers said law-abiding, working-class citizens paid hefty electricity bills regularly but were being forced to endure extended hours without power. They added that the outages had disrupted household routines, education and commercial activities across the city.

The MQM-P legislators further alleged that some K-Electric officials and employees were patronising organised networks involved in electricity theft. They claimed illegal connections were being provided in unauthorised settlements, encroachments and informal localities, while the resulting losses were passed on to regular consumers through excessive billing and fuel adjustment charges.