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Karachi: Karachi Electric Supply Company has submitted before the Sindh High Court that during the upcoming monsoon rains, the union’s illegal actions to block repair of rain related faults are likely to increase problems including threat to human life by electrocution, as the law enforcement agencies are supporting the union miscreants in their illegal actions and have deliberately failed to comply with court orders.
KESC has nominated Province of Sindh and others through Mr. Waseem Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary; Brig. Zafar Ahmed, Acting Director General, Sindh Rangers; Wajid Ali Khan Durrani, Provincial Police Officer; Saud Mirza, Capital City Police Officer; Iqbal Mehmood, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Zone), and the Labour Union as respondents in a petition submitted to the Court. The court summoned the respondents on July 13.
KESC submitted before the court that the monsoon season is about to start but the power utility has already not been able to respond to numerous complaints of its consumers due to the miscreants sabotage, and because of deliberate failure of the authorities to provide safety and security. Complaints during the monsoon seasons increase which need immediate redress but the necessary tools and equipment for meeting such eventualities cannot be retrieved by KESC from its go-downs and stores in SITE as the miscreants are not letting them do so.
The union’s illegal actions will increase problems for the inhabitants of Karachi in case the rain related faults are not allowed to be rectified. Due to rains, electrocutions and other such incidents also pose a threat to human life as water stagnates in areas and the electricity wires are damaged due to strong winds during rains. The law enforcing agencies are supporting the miscreants and the union in their illegal actions including the strike called by the workers. KESC employees have been brutally beaten up and have suffered serious injuries at the hands of the miscreants.
The petition said that the High Court in its order announced on June 23 had directed the authorities to remove any permanent blockage of the roads and footpaths in front of the offices and installations of KESC by union; ensure free entry and exit of the employees and management of KESC to their offices and installations; ensure due protection of the employees and management of KESC and its offices and installations, ensure free access and due protection to the consumers who approach Customer Care Centre; and to ensure that miscreants may not by exploiting the situation cause losses to the installations or create law and order situation.
KESC maintained that the provincial government and the rangers and police authorities had failed to comply with the court orders. KESC management and employees are still facing threats to their life and properties. They have not been able to access their office premises; they have not been able to respond to customer complaints and calls. The installations, offices, employees and staff of KESC have not been given protection and no FIRs etc have been lodged by the police against the miscreants who have continuously attacked those employees and staff of the KESC who have tried to perform their duties and rectify faults on complaints of the consumers of KESC.
KESC stated that the law enforcing agencies are supporting the miscreants and the union in their illegal actions including the strike called by the workers. KESC employees have been brutally beaten up and have suffered serious injuries at the hands of the miscreants. The miscreants have continued to damage installations and also have not allowed the employees and staff of KESC to retrieve their equipment, spare materials for repair, PMTs, transformers from their Central Stores and go-downs and transformer repair shops situated in SITE. The authorities and law enforcement personnel have been bystanders while all the illegal acts were committed by the miscreants. The law enforcing agencies are supporting the miscreants and the union in their illegal actions including the strike called by the workers. KESC employees have been brutally beaten up and have suffered serious injuries at the hands of the miscreants.
KESC in a legal notice on July 1, called upon the authorities and law enforcement personnel to ensure strict compliance with the directions contained in the court order and immediately provide security and protection but the authorities have not yet responded to the notice and no compliance of the court order has been ensured by them.
KESC prayed to the court to initiate proceedings for contempt of court against the provincial government and law enforcement agencies, for disobedience and disregard of the Court orders and failure to ensure compliance of the orders and direct them to comply with the same.
For more information, contact:
Adil Murtaza
Assistant Manager, Media and PR
Karachi Electric Supply Company Limited (KESC)
2nd Floor, State Life Building No 11, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9920 7163
Cell: +92346 822 3641
Email: adil.murtaza@kesc.com.pk