Protest against ‘corrupt’ gas official

SDO accused of accepting bribes and allowing gas theft to take place.

BAHAWALPUR:

Hundreds of protesters blocked Nawa Kot Road on Sunday demanding the suspension or transfer of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) Khanpur SDO Saman Ali, who they said was involved in gas theft and corruption.

Mohammad Afzal, a protester, told The Express Tribune that SDO Ali and his staff would grant favours to gas thieves. “They have taken no notice of gas leaks in this area,” he said.

“The SDO uses his position to settle personal matters and accuses people he doesn’t like of gas theft,” Afzal said.

Earlier that day SDO Saman Ali had submitted an application to the police stating that he had gone to Nawa Kot on receiving information regarding gas theft in the area. He said, the team including Accounts Incharge Rafiq Iqbal and EDC Hafiz Muhammad Umair, disconnected a meter from where gas was being stolen. Ali said Malik Muhammad Sadique, Malik Islam and Malik Rasheed approached the officials beat them up and threatened to kill them. Ali further stated that shopkeepers in the neighbourhood including Afzal Araeen, Arif Altaf and Shahzad set fire to the distribution line. “When I called the police, the men fled,” Ali said.

Sub Inspector Chaudhry Ilyas of City police told The Express Tribune that SDO Ali and his staff appeared to be lying. He said he had learnt that these officials were removing Sadique’s meter, when neighbouring shopkeepers gathered around and protested against them.

SDO Ali denied the allegations against him and told The Express Tribune he had taken action against people who stole gas. “Before I was deployed in Khanpur, gas theft was rampant. I took strict action against these thieves that is why they have falsely accused me of taking bribes,” said Ali. Police has not been cooperating in the crackdown, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.