BAHAWALNAGAR: Minchinabad Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital has disconnected the illegal electricity connection to the house of the Minchinabad assistant commissioner (AC) after the power theft went viral on social media.

AC Mudassir Arif is also in charge of the taskforce to curb electricity theft in the tehsil as well as chairman of the THQ health commission.

According to the hospital administration, Arif was transferred here a few months ago and his house was being supplied electricity from the hospital illegally. After the news of this illegal connection went viral on social media, the power supply was disconnected, the administration added.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Waheed Bajwa confirmed that the AC’s house was adjacent to the hospital and electricity was being stolen from the hospital’s connection and supplied to the AC’s house.

Sources in the AC office revealed that Mr Arif’s house had another connection through which only lights were powered, whereas air conditioners and heaters were being supplied power through the illegal connection for several years.

A few recently appointed doctors revealed on the condition of anonymity that after the hospital got wind of the illegal connection the AC started harassing the administration. They alleged that the AC had the trees in the hospital felled illegally and also verbally harassed the woman administration officer. A gardener, peon and guard at the hospital, who are all contractual employees, had been illegally deputed at the AC’s residence despite shortage of staff at the hospital hostel.

Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Sheikh Abdul Aziz told Dawn that he had received reports of the AC threatening the paramedical staff after the incident of electricity theft surfaced.

He had informed Bahawalnagar Deputy Commissioner (DC) SD Khalid but no action had been taken against the AC Arif. “Get a first information report lodged through the health department,” the DC suggested.

AC Arif did not respond to repeated attempts to get his comment over the issue.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2018