MULTAN: PPP candidate for PP-218 Malik Abbas Raan alleges that the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) is being used to influence the results of the election in favour of former PML-N MNA Abdul Ghaffar Dogar.

In his written complaint to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Mr Raan alleged that Mepco Sub Divisional Officer New Multan Ghulam Asghar Karloo is misusing his position to influence the result of the election.

“The competent authority has therefore directed to probe the matter and to submit a report to this secretariat at the earliest to proceed further in the matter,” ECP Deputy Director M&T Ghulam Abbas stated in a letter to District Monitoring Officer/Deputy Commissioner on July 21.

Earlier, a letter No 6928-32 was dispatched by the Mepco Revenue Officer on July 16 to the district election commission while stating that Mr Raan who is managing partner of M/S Arshad Abbas Ice Factory, Qadirpur Raan is contesting election for PP-218. It stated that the factory is a defaulter of Rs3 million of the department and he neither deposited the defaulted amount nor did he approach the department for the issuance of the clearance certificate.

“It is stated that the said candidate may kindly be directed to deposit the arrears,” it added.

The returning officer summoned both parties on July 19 and Mr Raan presented a stay order of a court in connection with the complaint while stating that the arrears would be paid soon after the court decide the matter.

RO Mubarrak Ali dismissed the complaint as barred by time.

Meanwhile, an FIR No 555/18 was lodged with the Bahauddin Zakariya police under section 353, 186 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code against Mr Raan, his son Shahid Abbas and 10 unidentified persons on the complaint of Mr Karloo who stated that as he was returning after hearing the proceedings by the RO, the suspects thrashed him, tried to kidnap him and snatched the official record.

Another application for the lodging of the FIR was also submitted by Mr Karloo for issuing threats to him over phone.

Karloo, in his written statement to the district monitoring officer on July 22, stated that the complaint against him was baseless as neither is he the resident of Multan nor has he any political affiliation. He stated that the department had moved the high court for the recovery of defaulted amount and requested the DC to provide him security so that he could perform his official duty without fear.

Mr Raan told Dawn that the Mepco administration is still following the directions of former state minister Abid Sher Ali and former MNA Abdul Ghaffar Dogar who is contesting election from NA-157 and PP-218.

He alleged that Mepco City Circle Superintendent Engineer Umer Lodhi had close ties with Mr Dogar and Javed Niaz, a front man of former state minister, as Niaz managed his posting as SE. He said the ice factory was leased out and the case regarding electricity arrears was still pending with court.

Mepco Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Akram Chaudhry said there was no interference in Mepco affairs by Abid Sher Ali. He said Mr Niaz did not pay any visit to Mepco offices during the last eight months.

“The role of Abid Sher Ali was minimised after Awais Leghari took the charge of minister in October 2017; however, I have nothing to say about the links between Mr Lodhi and Mr Dogar,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018