ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party chief Haji Adeel said on Monday Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali should apologise to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for his statement.
Addressing a news conference outside the Parliament House, Adeel said the ANP rejected the fresh hike in power tariff. "The ANP strictly condemns the price hike which has taken place in the first 100 days of the government; we have also tabled an adjournment motion in this respect," Adeel said.
He said the Supreme Court technically intervened, but the government increased the tariff through the NEPRA. “This price hike will bring people to the streets.” The ANP chief said, "The WAPDA itself was involved in power pilferage, but after such a price hike everyone will steal electricity."
Coming down hard Abid Sher Ali, Adeel said abusive language by the minister would be not tolerated. “The tigers have become jackals now. Even the government’s allies have also showed reaction to the statement of Sher Ali.”
Adeel said that Karachi was at top of the list in power theft and Lahore stood second. It was decided in the 18th amendment that half the price of minerals would be given to the province from where they would be produced. “If the federation does not give Rs42 billion to us, then the government and opposition of Khyber will ask the people to use electricity but not pay their bills. KPK is producing more than enough electricity, but we are taking our gas from Attock,” added Adeel. He said the government had paid Rs480 billion to the IPPs [independent power producers], but it did not pay Rs90 billion to the WAPDA.
"Punjab is installing solar panel, which will cost Rs18 billion to Rs20 billion, but our KPK will not become the part of this project", concluded the senator who was accompanied by his party spokesperson Zahid Khan.
