'Rs100 million gas bill defaulter' denied bail in gas theft case

LHC denied bail after hearing that the petitioner was a defaulter of Rs100 million in SNGPL gas bills.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday denied bail to an accused involved in stealing gas from Sui.

Accused Saqlain Ahmed through his counsel submitted that some officials belonging to the Sui National Gas Private Limited (SNGPL), had implicated him in the case with malefide intentions. He argued that the case against him was a fabrication, therefore, his bail petition should be allowed.

The state counsel informed the court that the accused had been involved in the theft of both domestic and commercial gas for many years.

The counsel said that the accused was defaulter of over Rs100 million of SNGPL bills. The counsel opposed the bail petition and argued that if such elements were not punished the gas load shedding would not be controlled.

The court dismissed the bail petition after hearing arguments from both sides.