March 6, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 2, 1424

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PESHAWAR, March 5: The Peshawar Electricity Supply Company has found the NWFP police involved in electricity theft in the Mardan district.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, Pesco staff found 10 police posts in the Mardan district being provided electricity through illegal connections.

The theft came to light during Pesco’s ongoing campaign to check electricity pilferage in an attempt to help Water and Power Development Authority control its line losses.

“Approximately, 10 police posts in the Mardan district had illegally taken direct connections (from the main supply line) and the practice had been going for the last three to four years,” the press release said, adding that during this period the police made no effort to get these connections regularized.

These connections, the press release said, were also being used for cooking meals on electric heaters.

Each of the illegal connection separately involved, approximately, four kilowatt load — much higher than a legal domestic or even official connection.

The illegal electricity connections were removed and power supply to the police posts concerned was discontinued. The facility, the press release said, would be restored only after the police department apply for the electricity connection — in fulfilment of the law.

The police high ups, meanwhile, claimed that the Pesco’s press release had given assurance that new connection would be provided once demand notice fee was deposited.

Pesco’s revenue would record major improvement after electricity supply was restored to the police posts through legal connections, concluded the press release.

Meanwhile, according to another official handout, Pesco booked 11 persons on the charge of electricity pilferage in different parts of the Peshawar district during its ongoing campaign.

A Pesco team of Warsak sub-division number-I found 11 electricity consumers having taken connections directly from the Wapda’s LT supply line by hooks.

Cases were registered against them in different police stations. Those who were booked included Afsar Khan, Shad Mohammed, Master Jabbar, Ehsanullah and Salim Khan, all residents of Koochian.

Besides, six residents of the Mullahzai area were also found involved in the electricity theft including Mohabbat, Taj Mohammed, Janas, Gohar, Mussarat and Ghaffar.