FAISALABAD: Enraged people ransacked the Faizabad sub-division office of the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) in Ghulam Mohammadabad on Tuesday to vent their ire against the officials for removing electricity meters in Sidhupura.

The episode followed removal of meters of some of the consumers allegedly involved in pilferage, according to Fesco officials.

They said the protesters led by Abid Ali and Shamas of Sidhupura stormed the SDO office, thrashed the on-duty employees and ransacked furniture and fixtures there.

Sub-Divisional Officer Ali Waqar was not in his office when it was attacked.

The protesters chanted slogans against Fesco officials and demanded restoration of power supply.

Protesters dispersed only when they were told by some Fesco officials that police were on their way to arrest them.

According to Fesco employees, the SDO during a campaign against electricity theft detected about one dozen consumers stealing power from main lines.

They said the alleged electricity thieves also threatened the SDO with dire consequences for not restoring electricity. They said cases had also been registered against them without any arrest so far.

The employees alleged some of the protesters also resorted to aerial firing outside the office before dispersing.

SDO Ali Waqar said the issue had been brought into the notice of Fesco high-ups and an application would soon be submitted to the area police for registration of a case against those who had ransacked his office.

“I performed my duty by launching a campaign against the electricity thieves,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2014