Illegal power connection: KESC employee, Inter student injured in scuffle

The fight occurred when KESC worker accused the student of using an illegal connection.

KARACHI: A scuffle broke out between an employee of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and an Intermediate student in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Friday.

Police officials said that the conflict occurred when Rafiq Abid, the KESC officer, visited Muhammad Zulfiqar’s residence and accused him of using a ‘kunda’ connection - an illegal connection.

“An argument started when Zulfiqar denied the allegations,” said a duty officer at Darakhshan police station, Mohammad Safdar, adding that this resulted in a fight and both men were injured. “It is incorrect that any of the KESC offices came under attack as the incident took place at the house of Zulfiqar,” he added.



It is yet to be ascertained whether the consumer was using an illegal connection or not as neither party approached the police to register a case, said the officer.

Above the law?

Meanwhile, the power utility issued a statement that over a dozen men, who were affiliated with a political party, ransacked its DHA Badar Commercial complaint centre on Friday morning.

“The attackers who came in three cars broke into the office,” said the statement. “They abused, manhandled and injured KESC employees and the security guard on duty.” According to the official statement, these men also damaged furniture, equipment, and duty vehicles parked outside the office.

When contacted, a KESC spokesperson refused, however, to name the political party, fearing a “backlash of intolerance” by the activists.

The attackers, according to the spokesperson, indicated that some fault had occurred at an influential individual’s house in Bukhari Commercial Area. The miscreants insisted that the KESC staff accompany them immediately - something the utility workers were compelled to do even though the men did not bother registering a complaint with the utility. The power utility has demanded the law-enforcement agencies to take strict action against the culprits and ensure the security of KESC’s staff and assets.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2013.