Gas theft: Owner of textile mills denied bail

LAHORE:

Justice Mazahar Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court on Monday denied bail to the owner of Orient Textile Mills, who is accused of stealing Rs220 million worth of gas.

The judge held that Malik Anwar did not deserve bail because gas theft was hurting the whole nation.

The judge had earlier directed the petitioner to deposit 40 per cent of his gas bill, but he paid only 10 per cent. Anwar submitted that the gas authorities had sent him an inflated bill and sealed his factory on the basis that he hadn’t fully paid. He said that he was willing to pay Rs40 million in advance and the court should order his factory de-sealed. The judge rejected the request.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2013.