- State minister for water and power accuses PTI ministers of safeguarding power pilferers, says electricity theft behind KP’s power cut
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister Shaukat Yousafzai has termed State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali a “lunatic” for accusing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers of safeguarding electricity pilferers.
Yousafzai’s statement came after Abid Sher Ali, addressing a press conference Tuesday, announced that power supply to 13 feeders of seven different districts of KP had been disconnected due to power theft and non-payment of dues.
The power minister told reporters that the electricity supply to Shangla, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak and Tank was disconnected due to massive power thefts there and non-payment of electricity bills worth millions. He elaborated that the federation was handing over Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) to the KP government but it backed out.
As the power minister alleged that PTI ministers were safeguarding power pilferers, the PTI-backed KP minister urged the prime minister for arranging for Abid Sher Ali’s “medical treatment in a mental asylum”.
The minister for water and power said that when WAPDA officials took action against pilferers, they were victimised. He added that by disconnecting power supply to areas with highest rate of power pilferage, the government had saved Rs 1.3 billion. He continued that from June this year, 2,000 MWs will be induced in the national system, whereas 260 MWs were being produced by a power project in Jamshoro, Sindh and 747 MWs of power was being generated by the Guddu power plant.
Yousafzai further commented on Abid Sher Ali by saying that power minister’s statement showed that the nation will have to face more load shedding this year.
