KARACHI: Dismissing a petition filed by the Jamaat-i-Islami against loadshedding, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday referred the matter to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) with a direction to decide it within one month.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro dismissed the plea for not being maintainable.

The JI had petitioned the SHC last year, contending that K-Electric (KE) had been carrying out loadshedding for an average duration of 10 to 16 hours daily in various localities of the city.

At the last hearing, the bench had observed that, prima facie, the petition was not maintainable as the issue of loadshedding had already been decided by the Supreme Court.

On Thursday, the bench heard arguments on this point, while counsel for KE submitted a statement along with a copy of the order passed by the SC in October 2023, wherein the same issue was decided.

Reproducing the apex court’s order, the bench said that, as per the top court, the relevant forum for redressal of grievances of the respondents was Nepra.

“…we are clear in our mind that this petition is not maintainable. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. However, the matter of load shedding is referred to NEPRA for a decision within a period of one month and report to be submitted through MIT-II of this Court,” it added.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025