LAHORE: A group of lawyers allegedly subjected an official of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) to severe torture on the court premises in Nankana Sahib district on Monday.

According to a Lesco spokesman, Muhammad Aslam, a lineman, came to the court of Additional Sessions Judge Huma Ambrin to appear as a witness in an electricity theft case.

He said that at the door of the court, lawyers including Muhammad Umar Tarar, Bilal Tarar and Mansoor Ashraf surrounded the lineman and started hurling abuses at him, besides subjecting him to severe torture, leaving him seriously injured.

The lawyers also threatened to kill the Lesco official.

Drive against power, gas pilferage continues

Meanwhile, Aslam’s colleagues who were also present there called the police through 15 helpline. The police personnel reached the spot and rescued Aslam from the lawyers.

On the complaint of Lesco authorities, a case has been registered against the accused over interference in government affairs and subjecting the official to violence.

Meanwhile, keeping in view the huge outstanding dues amounting to over Rs15 billion, the Lesco has widened the scope of recovery from various government institutions which had failed to pay the company’s dues.

Lesco spokesman told the media that the company has started recovery of dues from private sector’s chronic defaulters in various categories in all its circles six days back and now it has also issued the list of defaulting government institutions.

“The CEO also tasked Lesco’s relevant officers to ensure recovery from the public sector departments in accordance with the given list and also take necessary steps in this regard,” he added.

According to him, the government defaulters include WASA, Punjab Irrigation and Power Department, Pakistan Railways, Lahore Ring Road Authority, City District Government of Lahore, Punjab Health Department, Punjab Police, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Services Hospital Lahore, University of the Punjab and Kasur district government.

OPERATION: Various teams of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) separately carried out several operations on Monday, detecting hundreds of gas and power theft cases and getting many of the suspects arrested.

According to a spokesman for SNGPL, the teams during raids on the premises of gas pilferers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad, disconnected another 175 connections, imposing a total fine of Rs2.2 million.

In Lahore, the regional team disconnected 10 connections over the illegal use of gas, lodging three FIRs and arresting two persons for gas theft.

In Bahawalpur, a team of SNGPL disconnected 21 connections over use of compressor, while another eight for gas theft, imposing a total fine of Rs330,000. The company also disconnected five connections over illegal use of gas.

In Sheikhupura, two connections were disconnected, while in Sialkot, the company disconnected seven others over use of compressor and one over illegal extension. Similarly, 16 gas connections were disconnected in Sargodha on illegal use, while a fine of Rs123,145 was also imposed on pilferers.

The regional team in Gujranwala disconnected 31 connections on illegal use of gas, while an FIR was also lodged for gas theft. The region also imposed a total fine of Rs819,000 on gas thieves.

In Gujrat, a team imposed a fine of Rs80,000 over gas theft. In Sahiwal, five connections were disconnected over illegal extension. The regional team in Faisalabad disconnected 28 connections over gas theft, while imposing a fine of Rs140,000.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2023