Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed directed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and all electricity distribution companies in the Punjab to submit the schedules by January 19.
The judge pointed out, while admonishing a deputy attorney general, that the court had passed the same order on October 4, but it was ignored.
The chief justice warned the deputy attorney general that he would appoint a commission to obtain the schedules if he did not receive them at the next hearing.
The court was hearing a petition seeking a restraining order on Wapda and electricity supply companies against power outages.
Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique, the petitioner, said the government failed to supply uninterrupted electric to hospitals, even when the rivers were full of water and there was no shortfall in electricity production.
He said that the government was not paying outstanding dues to independent power producers, who in turn were not producing electricity, which was a violation of the fundamental rights of the people.
Siddique said that it was “a proven fact” that there was “no reason” for the gas and electricity outages. He said that the government was “illegally” collecting fuel adjustment charges, an equalisation surcharge and other fees but still could not provide uninterrupted electricity.
He said that Wapda and all distribution companies should be stopped from load shedding, particularly in hospitals. He also asked that the uninterrupted electricity supply to VVIPs including the president, prime minister, governor, chief minister, ministers and others be declared a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution.
Surcharges
Hearing another petition, the chief justice issued notices to the federal government for January 19 and sought a reply about the cost of electricity production and the revenue collected from consumers in fuel adjustment, EQ (equalisation) and Neelum-Jhelum surcharges.
In this petition, Advocate Siddique sought production of financial statements showing profit and loss details, debit and credit entries and details of other expenses for disclosure to the public in view of Article 19-A of the Constitution.
He said the money being collected under the head of fuel adjustment and other surcharges was being paid to rental power projects, which was illegal.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2011.
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