PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) said Thursday the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments have been asked to take necessary action against a provincial assembly legislator who by force secured the release of the alleged power thieves in his constituency.
A communication by the Pesco said the Pesco staff and Pesco Police were busy in routine checking on Wednesday, removing the kundas or illegal power connections and recovering arrears from defaulters in Achar village at Ghari Durani on the Ring Road. The power theft in the area is about 96 to 97 per cent. The Pesco said a few culprits were arrested for the illegal use of electricity and a large number of kundas or hooks were removed.
The press release said when the action was being taken, Member Provincial Assembly from KP-6 along with his armed guards attacked the Pesco staff and police. He secured the release of the culprits at gunpoint. The Pesco staff was assaulted and compelled at gunpoint to reconnect the illegal connections.
The Pesco said the MPA also threatened the Pesco and police not to enter in KP-6 in future or else they will face serious consequences. It said the same MPA had forcibly entered the 132 KV Rehman Baba Grid Sation and switched on the 11 kv feeder which had been switched off due to approved load management.
The Pesco said Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that no leniency would be shown to power thieves.Pesco Chief Executive Tariq Saddozai hailed the performance of Pesco staff and Pesco Police and assured security to the staff.He awarded certificates and case amounts to 15 Pesco staff and police officials in a graceful ceremony held at Wapda House Peshawar.
It may be mentioned here that several private TV channels had reported the incident on Wednesday wherein the Pesco had accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA from PK-6 Fazal Elahi of attacking the Pesco staff and police for removing the illegal power connections and arresting the electricity thieves.
