KESC jolts 2 top industrialists with Rs 1bn ‘electric shock’

The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has served legal notices to the current and former presidents of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) – Mian Abrar and Siraj Kasim Teli, respectively – demanding an unconditional apologies and damages up to the tune of Rs 1 billion for defamatory and offensive remarks against the power utility in the print and electronic media.
The defamation notices asks the two industrialists to refrain from acting in an irresponsible manner since the KCCI itself had signed an agreement on November 26 along with KESC and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in the presence of the Sindh governor and federal petroleum minister for gas load management during peak winter season.
According to the KESC, the power company had already complied with the relevant provisions [of the agreement], including payment of Rs 2 billion to SSGC on November 29, but the gas utility has not started supplying the agreed quota of 180mmcfd to date.
“The KESC was dismayed to come across the negative remarks published in the media by the two KCCI presidents, after signing the agreement with KESC and SSGC,” it was stated in the notice.
It was also pointed out that Abrar and Teli were violating the government’s Natural Gas Allocation and Management Policy, 2005 which gives priority to domestic consumers, the KESC and WAPDA, over captive power producers like the industrialists themselves. “In fact, captive power producers are illegally accessing the gas supply meant for power utilities without lawful excuse and have therefore contributed to the current shortfall in gas supply to all consumers,” it was claimed.
In the event of failure of the two industrialists in providing an unconditional and full apology within seven days, the KESC has provided clear instructions to commence legal proceedings against them for defamation and damages, the legal notice warned.
It was stated that the defamatory and offensive remarks made by the two individuals have brought into disrepute “the good name and professional reputation of KESC, which has taken innovative and pioneering steps since the present management took over in September 2008”.