RAHIM YAR KHAN: A private electrician engaged illegally by Multan Electric Power Company staff was electrocuted while working on an electricity pole in Basti Jainwala, Mahmoodabad, in the limits of Iqbalabad police station, some 15km from here, on Wednesday.

Reports said Chowk Bahadurpur Mepco sub-division staff had engaged Hafiz Abdullah for the last two years to do the tasks they themselves were supposed to do. In return, the electrician would get a reasonable amount from the staff.

Following a power failure on Wednesday in Mahmoodabad area housing small industries, the Mepco officials asked Abdullah to reach the spot. As he climbed the pole near a flour mill, he received a shock and died on the spot.

Father of four minors, Abdullah was a resident of Tajgarh. His funeral prayers were offered in the afternoon where no Mepco official turned up.

Local Mepco spokesperson Jamshaid Niaz told Dawn sending a private person for Mepco work was illegal. He said an inquiry would be initiated and responsible officials would face strict legal and departmental action if found guilty.

A Mepco official said some rural area sub-divisions were involved in this practice for lack of supervision/check by senior officials. He said private electricians lacked safety gear and required training.

Asked how the private persons were paid, he said the staff would get money from beneficiaries of power restoration and spare some amount for the poor electricians.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2021