SHC questions K-Electric on measures taken to curtail load shedding

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) asked K-Electric officials on Monday about measures taken to cut down the hours of load shedding in the city.

During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer, Faisal Siddiqui, said an entire area should not be deprived of electricity if one person defaults on paying the bills. He added that even if it is the matter of theft, the person committing the crime should bear the brunt of the power cuts, not those in the adjoining houses. 

He added that K-Electric should provide electricity to the citizens under the national power policy.

Officials of the power utility were also present at the hearing.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered the power utility to not cut-off power supply during Ramazan, the lawyer maintained. But regardless, 80% of the areas in Karachi were in the dark during sehri on the first day of Ramazan this year. 

The court then reserved its decision and will announce it later in the day.

On May 24, SHC Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, heading the bench, had come down hard on the city's sole power utility, saying they will not sit idle while unannounced load shedding continues to cause distress to residents.