LAHORE: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) chief Arshad Rafiq was removed from office and arrested on Monday over charges pressed against him involving corruption and abuse of power, DawnNews reported.

Rafiq is being charged with trading in substandard transformers, authorising changes in load-shedding schedules and failing to prevent electricity theft.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the former Lesco chief had misused his authority.

In one instance, he has been accused of changing the load-shedding schedule by halting power supply to Lahore’s Defence area in order to provide electricity in another area.

A case has been registered against Rafiq and names of Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Saleem and Rao Zameer are being considered for the position of Lesco chief.

Last month, the Water and Power Ministry had Rafiq that he should either “improve situation at the company, or the ministry would take direct action”.

Pointing out total collapse of governance – falling recoveries, increasing line losses, excessive and wrong billing – at Lesco, the ministry had issued a second warning to Rafiq in the three months.

“Remedial measures to correct the situation need to be taken at your personal level. It is most pertinent to say that any further silence on your part would be suicidal for power sector and against supreme national interest,” a letter issued by the ministry had said.

Also last week, an arrest warrant was issued against Rafiq for his constant absence in a contempt of court petition filed by a consultant of the company.