Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ministers protecting power thieves: Abid Sher Ali

The Express Tribune News

Ministers of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government are protecting those involved in power theft in the province, alleged Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) media centre, Ali demanded an explanation from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan for his ministers’ alleged involvement in power theft. Naming MPAs Fazle Ilahi, Shah Farman, Ahmad Zari and Khalid Khana among others, the state minister accused these lawmakers of failing to ensure that the people in their constituencies paid their dues to Pesco.

“Around 90% of the users in their constituencies are defaulters,” he said.

Ali requested the lawmakers to help the federal government in recovering the billed amount from defaulters. The minister also said that certain areas bordering Peshawar have become no-go locations for Pesco employees who cannot carry on with their work because of security threats. Stressing that the no-tolerance policy against power theft is for everyone, Ali warned of disconnecting power supply to Bannu if line losses are not reduced.

Responding to these accusation, PTI MPA Farman told Express News that the Pesco chief was the root of all the corruption and losses.

He questioned why the federal government did not replace the chief of Pesco when the chiefs of all other power companies were removed.

Farman accused Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) of protecting the corrupt staff of Pesco.