RAHIM YAR KHAN: Police have book a commercial consumer of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for stealing and illegally supplying gas to at least two shops.

SNGPL meter section in charge Jam Mushtaq told Dawn on Saturday that a large-scale gas theft from an SNGPL line by a medical store owner in front of the Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital’s main gate was detected on Friday by a team headed by Muhammad Ayuob in a raid.

He said the shop owner, Irshaad Ahmed Tabassum had been found stealing gas through a dead meter.

He said Tabassum was also illegally supplying gas to a cold drink shop and a tea stall through an underground pipe.

Mr Mushtaq said the SNGPL team also recovered large gas valves, a regulator, 40-foot long pipe and some other gadgets being used for the gas theft.

After their initial reluctance to register a case against the suspect, allegedly because of political pressure, the City A Division police finally booked Tabassum (FIR No 247/19) under section 462-c of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2019