Multan jalsa: PTI to rally in the dark with MEPCO yet to restore power to Qasim Bagh
Mepco officials claim they have yet to receive approval from the district government to restore power
MULTAN:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political gathering in Multan may have to endure a less than 'power-ed' showing with electricity to their rally venue yet to be restored owing to bureaucratic hurdles.
On the eve of their showcase event PTI leader Tariq Naeemullah, who is responsible for logistic arrangements for the rally, told The Express Tribune that while the district administration had given them permission to hold the gathering at Qasim Bagh cricket ground, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) had disconnected power to the ground.
The ground had been non-functional for a score years and its power connection had been suspended.
“We were asked by the district government of Multan to pay all the unpaid bills, including that of sanitation, MEPCO and the SNGPL, among others before organising a rally,” said Naeemullah.
“We paid almost one million rupees in pending payments to all these organisations,” the logistics in charge added. “Rs80,000 were paid to MEPCO."
He added that the power supply company was assured that all other utility bills will be paid after the political gathering.
Despite the assurance, MEPCO has yet to restore the power connection to the ground.
“When we approached district government Multan, they said that an approval from their side had been given while the matter was with MEPCO and their technical staff now,” Naeemullah said.
Multan DCO Zahid Saleem confirmed to The Express Tribune that approval for the venue had been provided, and assured that all support to PTI for ground maintenance and facilitation will be provided. “I have also conveyed the issue to MEPCO authorities.”
On the other hand, MEPCO officials claim that they had not received any formal approval from the district government.
Security
District police Multan has already deputed 1,400 police personnel for Friday's rally.
500 policemen have also been called from Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan to bolster existing ranks.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political gathering in Multan may have to endure a less than 'power-ed' showing with electricity to their rally venue yet to be restored owing to bureaucratic hurdles.
On the eve of their showcase event PTI leader Tariq Naeemullah, who is responsible for logistic arrangements for the rally, told The Express Tribune that while the district administration had given them permission to hold the gathering at Qasim Bagh cricket ground, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) had disconnected power to the ground.
The ground had been non-functional for a score years and its power connection had been suspended.
“We were asked by the district government of Multan to pay all the unpaid bills, including that of sanitation, MEPCO and the SNGPL, among others before organising a rally,” said Naeemullah.
“We paid almost one million rupees in pending payments to all these organisations,” the logistics in charge added. “Rs80,000 were paid to MEPCO."
He added that the power supply company was assured that all other utility bills will be paid after the political gathering.
Despite the assurance, MEPCO has yet to restore the power connection to the ground.
“When we approached district government Multan, they said that an approval from their side had been given while the matter was with MEPCO and their technical staff now,” Naeemullah said.
Multan DCO Zahid Saleem confirmed to The Express Tribune that approval for the venue had been provided, and assured that all support to PTI for ground maintenance and facilitation will be provided. “I have also conveyed the issue to MEPCO authorities.”
On the other hand, MEPCO officials claim that they had not received any formal approval from the district government.
Security
District police Multan has already deputed 1,400 police personnel for Friday's rally.
500 policemen have also been called from Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan to bolster existing ranks.