MULTAN:Over 300 individuals took the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) raiding team hostage in Basti Parhar of Rajanpur district, despite the presence of law enforcement personnel at the scene.
The MEPCO officials found themselves in a perilous situation but managed to narrowly evade a potentially fatal attack, according to official sources.
This incident unfolded within the context of a determined crackdown on electricity theft, initiated in response to government directives. MEPCO teams have been conducting extensive operations across several districts in South Punjab.
As these operations unfolded, they uncovered numerous cases of electricity theft, with 70 individuals caught in the act of pilfering electricity. In the town of Jatoi, a loop system was discovered within the meter of the former MNA’s manager, Ghulam Shabir Gopang.
The scale of electricity theft was found to be substantial, with individuals resorting to the installation of loop systems in their meters to illegally power air conditioners. Furthermore, the former member of the national assembly’s focal person was also found guilty of electricity theft for having installed direct wires in Jatoi.
The crackdown extended to Rajanpur, where instances of electricity theft were exposed at the residence of candidate MPA Chaudhry Maqsood Akhtar’s brother. Additionally, the candidate himself was revealed to be a defaulter with outstanding dues totaling Rs. 365,000.
In response to the issue, the police have taken legal action against electricity thieves in Jatoi, Alipur, and Rajanpur, aligning with the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s directives for a comprehensive crackdown on electricity theft.
In a separate development, it has been reported that on September 10, 229 consumers in South Punjab were found involved in electricity theft. A significant financial penalty amounting to Rs 14.7 million was imposed for the theft of 352,000 units. Cases have been registered against 33 individuals involved in electricity theft across 13 districts in South Punjab.
This relentless crackdown has brought to light the widespread problem of electricity theft plaguing the region. It underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating this illegal practice and ensuring that electricity distribution was carried out in a fair and lawful manner, as conveyed by official sources.