The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to add the name of K-Electric CEO Moonis Alvi in all the cases registered against the utility in connection with the deaths caused by electrocution, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
As a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab was hearing a case about unannounced loadshedding and electrocution-related deaths in the port city at its Karachi Registry, the judges also ordered a comprehensive audit of K-Electric.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that they might also ask the State Bank not to allow the transfer of the utility’s profits abroad.
“People are dying of electrocution. Earth wires have been removed from entire Karachi. There should be a murder case against them. They are not even bothered about it. Arrest them if they suspend power supply in Karachi,” he observed.
Expressing his anger directed at Alvi, the chief justice told him directly, “You people are not ashamed and instead lecture the people. We won’t allow a monopoly over Karachi. There should be more companies.”
Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that they understood the mentality of the foreign owners who considered the locals just a salve. “They consider the Pakistanis as garbage. Even the price of their camel is more than that of the Pakistani citizens.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also asked the NEPRA chairman about the alternative if the K-Electric’s licence was cancelled. “They have destroyed the system after taking over [the K-Electric]. Who are they to issue sermons to the people of Karachi?” remarked the furious chief justice.
“They say the people of Karachi are involved in power theft. Who are they to say that? Don’t lecture the people of Karachi. The power supply shouldn’t be suspended for a minute. Do you understand?” the chief justice said.
When the counsel for K-Electric argued that the people had died at their homes, Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that the people died [of electrocution] only when there was some electricity fault.