Petition against inflated electricity bills lands in SC now

After the Lahore High Court, now the Supreme Court has been moved against the inflated electricity bills, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A citizen, Saeeda Begum, filed an application in the Supreme Court on Wednesday against the inflated electricity bills and provision of free power units to some privileged officials.

The petitioner pleaded with the court to immediately stop the supply of free electricity to the officers of various departments. She also called for the halt of free electricity units and petrol supply to the members of the judiciary as well as the parliament.

The petition beseeched the court to make recovery from the IPPs after declaring various taxes included in the electricity bills null and void.

It stated that the previous government had provided tax exemption to the IPP Boards.

The petition further said that the people working in the power generation companies also take salaries. It requested the court to restore the slabs which were made for the benefit of power consumers.

The constitution provides equal facilities to all citizens, it added.

The petitioner said that she received a Rs54,000 electricity bill and despite her all available resources she was unable to pay the bill.

The petition made federal government, Nepra, and energy and defence ministries respondents in the case.

On Monday, the Lahore High Court conducted a hearing on a petition filed by Advocate Mian Abdul Mateen against the inflated electricity bill.

During the hearing, LHC judge, Justice Raza Qureshi sent the petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) chairman, directing him to make a decision within 21 days regarding applications seeking relief from exorbitant electricity bills.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar held a cabinet meeting yesterday to chalk out a strategy as how to counter exorbitant electricity bills but the meeting failed to provide any relief to the masses so far.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori