MULTAN: The administration of Multan Electric Power Company seems helpless before the local leadership of Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union which is not allowing the joining of the Gulgasht sub-divisional officer known for crackdown on electricity theft.

The union on the other hand claims the officer misbehaves with subordinates.

Through a notification, Mepco’s Human Resource and Admin DG Liaqat Ali Memon assigned the acting charge of the post to additional SDO Ghulam Asghar on July 26. However, the union of the concerned sub-division warned Mr Asghar not to take charge of the office.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Asghar, who is known for his crackdown against people involved in electricity theft and has received numerous appreciation letters from his high-ups and police, said the leaders of the union posted in the sub-division since long were involved in the electricity theft.

He said that a group of five employees led by the union chairman was notorious for power theft in the region since long. He said they were so powerful that no body dared transfer them from the sub-division.

Resists posting of SDO known for crackdown on power thieves

“They are used to press the administration to get the SDO of their choice posted. They also held strike against another SDO Rana Tanveer recently.”

Gulgasht Sub-division’s Union Chairman Ansar Abbas said that he had been working as lineman in the sub-division for the last 17 years and nobody had the courage to transfer him.

“Who could transfer the union chairman? The union will not allow the joining of Mr Asghar as he misbehaves with lower staff. We will not allow him to take charge of the office at any cost,” he roared.

Mepco Deputy Director (Public Relations) Jamshed Niazi said that though the union was resisting, the transfer of Mr Asghar had not been cancelled.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2019