Over-billing: Citizens beat meter reader, protest

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Locals beat a meter reader for over-billing and staged a demonstration against Wapda and police officials for registering a case against 10 people. Residents of Trust Colony, speaking with The Express Tribune, said meter reader Hafiz Mohammad Rafique had over-billed Ghulam Mohammad and Ghulam Sarwar. They said they caught Rafique and gagged him after beating. The police registered a case against 10 people including Ghulam Mohammad and Ghulam Sarwar on a complaint of Multan Electric Power Company Sub-Divisional Officer Asim Rasheed. Following the registration of the case, people staged a demonstration and blocked Shahi Road with burning tyres. They demanded that the case be withdrawn and action be taken against Rafique. They said Rafique used to over-bill them and that he had been served four to five show cause notices by the Wapda office. Due to complaints against him, his increment had also been stopped, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2012.