Chandio says electricity load shedding of up to 18 hours is a violation of human rights
Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh for Information and Archives Maula Bux Chandio on Sunday appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu action against WAPDA for carrying out 16 to 18 hours load shedding in Sindh on a daily basis which, according to him, is a violation of human rights.
“As federal government has turned deaf ears to the complaints about prolonged and unbearable power load shedding in Sindh, we appeal Supreme Court to take stern action against the Wapda so that people can pass their life without load shedding miseries,” Chandio said in a statement issued from Sindh Information Department.
He said that people needed uninterrupted electricity supply during Ramazan, and on pre and post Eid days; therefore, Supreme Court’s help is needed in this regard as Sindh’s whole population is in grip of electricity load shedding and power failures.
“In rural Sindh, 16 to 18 hours of load shedding is being carried out by Wapda and its power distribution companies Hesco and Sepco, while people in towns are also not free from load shedding miseries as they have been compelled to face eight hours of load shedding and some times more than it on daily basis, which is not justified; therefore, it is the need of the hour that apex court may take notice of prolonged power load shedding that cause miseries to the people, he said.
Chandio said that K-Electric (KE) had also raised power load shedding duration in across Karachi despite prevalence of Ramazan. “The KE is also bent upon sending inflated bills to the people and disconnecting power supply of those who have become victim of inflated bills.” He warned KE to desist from sending inflated bills and carrying out massive load shedding, otherwise stern action will be taken against it from the authorities concerned.
The adviser asked people to file FIRs in police stations if any one of their family die due to load shedding, while complaints should also be submitted against Wapda and KE for unjustified power load shedding, power failures and inflated bills with federal and Sindh Ombudsmen.
Chandio said that PML-N government, Wapda and KE had also badly failed to fulfill their promise of providing reduced electricity load shedding to the people of Sindh during the holy month of Ramazan, and it is feared that those power entities might also carry out load shedding on the Eid days.
He said that Wapda had no mercy on the people of Sindh who are experiencing power load shedding amid scorching heat-wave. “Owing to unbearable load shedding by Wapda in Sindh, people are passing sleepless nights and many have been hospitalized so far,” Chandio concluded.
