RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has registered a case of electricity theft against former PPP MPA Mumtaz Ali Chang on Sunday.

A first information report (FIR) was registered with the Bhong Police Station on the complaint of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Muhammad Shahid of the Rahimabad area of Sadiqabad Mepco division.

Shahid said that on Sept 9, 2023 a Mepco team, including Line Superintendent (LS) II Kamran Ramzan, Acting LS Shauket Ali and lineman Ayaz Ahmed, checked the meter at the farmhouse of Chang at Nawazabad. They found that Chang was stealing electricity directly by connecting hooks with the transmission line, which caused the loss of Rs2m to Mepco. Mr Chang was also not depositing his tube-well bill of Rs548,326. Police registered a case against him.

Another Mepco team raided the Zeeshan Hospital at Adda Khanpur and found that the hospital was stealing the electricity. A source in the Mepco circle office, requesting anonymity, told this correspondent that many SDOs and LSs were involved in electricity theft and they also guide the consumers on the ways to steal electricity.

These SDOs and LSs knew each and every consumer who steals electricity because they were hand in glove with electricity thieves. He said some influential politicians, farmers, businessmen and industrialists were the main electricity thieves.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2023