The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shah Farman asks the State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali to refrain from baseless allegations and passing derogatory remarks against the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, otherwise they would opt to move the apex court.
While talking to media persons on Friday here at Peshawar Press Club, the Minister Shah Farman said the State Minister by giving wrong statements, try to show his efficiency instead of taking stern action against corrupt elements in PESCO and bringing improvement in the system. He informed that in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa about 2,000 cases of electricity theft were registered in which more than 1,100 accused were arrested, while in Punjab only 1,800 persons were arrested in the total 87,000 registered power theft cases.Shah Farman said despite better performance the shutting down of some power feeders in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are in violation of the basic human rights and suppose to political hooliganism. "Abid Sher Ali came here like a thief and shamelessly terming the regular bill payers of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as thieves, which is condemnable, he said. He asked the PML-N led Federal Government to sense the gravity of situations and restrains it mentally-ill minister of passing insulting remarks against the people of one federating unit of the federation.
Shah Farman also said the Federal Government would also be affected due to the attitude and behaviour of the State Minister for Water and Power with the provincial government and people of this province, adding if the attitude of a Federal representative is not changed the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government would also re-think about the status of the Federal Government.
He said those feeders can't be shutdown where 40 percent people pay their utility bills, and it was responsibility of PESCO management to take practical steps to stop illegal use of electricity and it would only be possible when the officials get the support of consumers by ending over billing and play fair game.
"We have other options to play on, but in the existing situations the motherland needs unity, the Minister said. He also alleged that FESCO, MESCO and LESCO were giving wrong statistics, because they are involved in electricity pilferage and diverting the attention towards wrong and baseless allegations.
In reply to a query, the Minister said fixing Rs 700 per direct connection proves PESCO officials are not sincere to install meters to domestic consumers, as meter installation will also reveal the irregularities of the authorities concerned. He also claimed that the provincial government has already provided police contingent and Magistrates and also extending all possible support to PESCO but even then our people are termed electricity thieves. To hide the rampant corruptions of PESCO officials, he said the people of this province are termed thieves. He also urged the Federal Government to implement the NEPRA report.
