ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) has expressed deep concern over unwarranted delay in appointing chairman of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

In a statement issued here on Saturday, the secretary general CRCP, Mian Abrar Hafeez, said there were widespread speculations that Nepra chairman had resigned as a protest against repeated interference by the government in tariff issues.

The delay in appointment of a new chairman reinforces these speculations, he added.

He lamented that an important body like Nepra might not serve the purpose of protecting consumers and determining the issues adequately in the absence of chairman for a long period.

The secretary general said: “Justice Saad Saud Jan (retired) was working as the Nepra chairman till June 2002 when he went on leave during the public hearing of Wapda’s tariff petition 2001- 02.”

He said the chairman resigned from his office on August 31, 2002. Since then, the office of Nepra chairman is lying vacant, he added.

Mr Hafeez said the authority took various important decisions in absence of the chairman.

“Though the authority can make determinations in absence of the chairman, the CRCP believe that organizational set-up of the authority should be complete for responsible decision-making.”