Counter narrative: With lights out in his constituency, Farman hits back at PESCO
Information minister claims the utility company overbilled his constituents.
K-P information minister Shah Farman addressing a press conference on Saturday. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
The row between Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and the provincial government escalated on Saturday as Shah Farman rustled up an emergency news conference to fire back after Pesco snipped off Badhaber and Mariyamzai’s power supply. These areas lie within Minister for Information Farman’s constituency, PK-10, Peshawar.
According to a Badhaber sub-division officer, arrears of Rs27.93 million had stacked up against consumers connected to the 11KV feeders, prompting the action on Friday. However, the Pesco-government clash goes back a long way.
More recently, on January 25, Farman raided Pesco officials’ houses and then publically accused them – including the chief executive officer (CEO) – of power theft. Pesco responded by threatening to sue Farman for overstepping his jurisdiction
At the news briefing on Saturday at Officers Mess, Farman announced the government was also considering legal action against Pesco officials for “power theft”.
Discussing Friday’s blackout in Badhaber, he claimed Pesco had overbilled his constituents which had, in turn, caused “the mess”.
“Only 3.98 million electricity units were consumed in the areas which were left in the dark yesterday.” However, said the minister, “The bills sent to them reads in excess of 5.31 million units – which means 1.29 million extra units were charged to the constituents.”
There are only 3,288 power consumers in Badhaber, he added.
Farman provided no documentary proof of the overbilling, but many consumers have complained of Pesco sending inflated bills, charging them for more than they have consumed.
Upping the ante
The minister for information did not stop there. He went on to accuse Pesco CEO Tariq Sadozai’s brother Arif Sadozai for illegally providing transformers and pylons in NA-25, DI Khan-Tank, through the offices of Pesco. This, according to Farman, was to garner political favour for “a candidate in the by-polls in September.”
He claimed the government will take on the Arif Sadozai issue, before pointing out the discrepancies in power rates provided to Al-Moees Sugar Mill. When the minister was asked about where the mill was located or who owned it, he side-stepped the issue, stating it was an answer for another day.
“How can there be transparency in the board of directors’ affairs after PML-N leaders were made its members?” questioned Farman. Merit based decisions cannot be taken when politicians are also directors, he stated.
PML-N leader Nasir Khan Musazai is currently a member of Pesco’s board.
The minister stated the government is considering legal action against Pesco officials over the theft of power, including CEO Tariq Sadozai for using illegal electricity connections at his residence.
“I am not personally targeting anyone, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has been voted to power – the party made a commitment to the public to end corruption and ensure justice.”
PESCO vs government(s)
Towards the end of Awami National Party’s (ANP) run in the province, the public had taken to violent protests in reaction to prolonged power outages. Even then, the K-P government and Pesco remained at loggerheads over shouldering responsibility. While ANP would blame Pesco for mismanagement, the utility company would claim the problem lay in line losses and the non-payment of bills.
PTI was then voted in during summer, forcing it to inherit the unhealthy relationship. Things were made worse when the chief minister publicly accused Tariq of changing statements about the crisis to suit the audience.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2014.
The row between Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and the provincial government escalated on Saturday as Shah Farman rustled up an emergency news conference to fire back after Pesco snipped off Badhaber and Mariyamzai’s power supply. These areas lie within Minister for Information Farman’s constituency, PK-10, Peshawar.
According to a Badhaber sub-division officer, arrears of Rs27.93 million had stacked up against consumers connected to the 11KV feeders, prompting the action on Friday. However, the Pesco-government clash goes back a long way.
More recently, on January 25, Farman raided Pesco officials’ houses and then publically accused them – including the chief executive officer (CEO) – of power theft. Pesco responded by threatening to sue Farman for overstepping his jurisdiction
At the news briefing on Saturday at Officers Mess, Farman announced the government was also considering legal action against Pesco officials for “power theft”.
Discussing Friday’s blackout in Badhaber, he claimed Pesco had overbilled his constituents which had, in turn, caused “the mess”.
“Only 3.98 million electricity units were consumed in the areas which were left in the dark yesterday.” However, said the minister, “The bills sent to them reads in excess of 5.31 million units – which means 1.29 million extra units were charged to the constituents.”
There are only 3,288 power consumers in Badhaber, he added.
Farman provided no documentary proof of the overbilling, but many consumers have complained of Pesco sending inflated bills, charging them for more than they have consumed.
Upping the ante
The minister for information did not stop there. He went on to accuse Pesco CEO Tariq Sadozai’s brother Arif Sadozai for illegally providing transformers and pylons in NA-25, DI Khan-Tank, through the offices of Pesco. This, according to Farman, was to garner political favour for “a candidate in the by-polls in September.”
He claimed the government will take on the Arif Sadozai issue, before pointing out the discrepancies in power rates provided to Al-Moees Sugar Mill. When the minister was asked about where the mill was located or who owned it, he side-stepped the issue, stating it was an answer for another day.
“How can there be transparency in the board of directors’ affairs after PML-N leaders were made its members?” questioned Farman. Merit based decisions cannot be taken when politicians are also directors, he stated.
PML-N leader Nasir Khan Musazai is currently a member of Pesco’s board.
The minister stated the government is considering legal action against Pesco officials over the theft of power, including CEO Tariq Sadozai for using illegal electricity connections at his residence.
“I am not personally targeting anyone, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has been voted to power – the party made a commitment to the public to end corruption and ensure justice.”
PESCO vs government(s)
Towards the end of Awami National Party’s (ANP) run in the province, the public had taken to violent protests in reaction to prolonged power outages. Even then, the K-P government and Pesco remained at loggerheads over shouldering responsibility. While ANP would blame Pesco for mismanagement, the utility company would claim the problem lay in line losses and the non-payment of bills.
PTI was then voted in during summer, forcing it to inherit the unhealthy relationship. Things were made worse when the chief minister publicly accused Tariq of changing statements about the crisis to suit the audience.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2014.