Issue of KE's privatisation should have been taken up with relevant forum first: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Issues are brought to the Supreme Court rather than being taken to the relevant forum first – it has become a tradition, said Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar during the hearing of K-Electric's (KE) privatisation.

People believe only the apex court can help them find justice, added the chief justice while hearing the petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami against the power utility's privatisation on Tuesday. 

When Justice Umer Ata Bandyal asked why the issue was not taken up with the power regulator — National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) —, JI lawyer Rasheed Rizvi said everyone in the power supply chain was corrupt and embezzling funds worth billions of rupees.

Explaining the petition, the JI lawyer told the court that 1,500 people have died due to the suspension of power supply ever since K-Electric was completely privatised in 2005. Moreover, he added, the tall claims made during the process were never fulfilled, and instead 4,000 employees were sacked.

However, the federal government's lawyer said the petition was not worthy of being heard as the Sindh High Court has already given a verdict over the case by ordering NEPRA to take action against the power utility.

But the chief justice sought replies from the federal government, Shanghai Electric [which is in the process of taking over majority shares of KE] and K-Electric over the issue.