Continuing tussle: ‘Illegal’ connections discovered at PESCO chief’s house

PESCO plans to take legal action against minister.

Two illegal electricity connections were unearthed at the house of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) chief Tariq Sadozai during a raid in Wapda Colony, Nowshera on Sunday by Minister for Information Shah Farman.

Farman, while talking to the media, said he found two hooks at the Pesco chief’s house during the raid, adding when the power company’s chief was stealing electricity then his ‘high-ups’ are likely to be doing the same.

Farman lashed out at Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali for accusing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa of stealing electricity when his own officials were involved in the crime. He said he will expose other Pesco officials involved in stealing electricity during a news conference in Islamabad soon.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker also expressed concern over the suspension of electricity to his constituency, terming it a result of political rivalry.

He said despite a written agreement, electricity meters were not provided to residents. He said mostly the federal authorities and the elite were involved in stealing electricity but the low-income groups had to bear the burden by filling the gap, adding the provincial government would not let anyone get away with corruption.

In response to the minister’s raid, Pesco spokesman Shaukat Afzal said “It is amazing that when the Pesco chief and other employees of the company are entitled to free units of electricity according to their designation, they are being accused of using illegal electricity.”

He added a digital meter is installed at Sadozai’s residence and every bill is paid, adding there is no direct connection at his house. He further said Pesco is mulling legal acting against this illegal act of the minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2014.