The Supreme Court has ordered the Managing Director of the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the large-scale theft and illegal supply of electricity in Larkana through unauthorized hook connections (“kundas”) operated by private individuals and contractors.
The order came during a hearing at the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry before Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar in a case relating to a citizen, Noor Hussain, who was injured after an illegal electricity line collapsed in Larkana.
Expressing serious concern over the illegal practice, Justice Mazhar remarked that contractors were selling stolen electricity while the public was purchasing it, causing significant financial losses to the state.
“This is an extremely serious administrative issue,” the judge observed.
During the hearing, the court dismissed a petition seeking the cancellation of the bail of contractor Anwar Ali Kori, who is accused of illegally supplying electricity.
Justice Mazhar noted that the FIR in the case had been registered nine months after the incident and pointed out that no application had been filed seeking the cancellation of bail granted to the SEPCO officials named in the case.
“If one house in Karachi steals electricity, K-Electric cuts off power to the entire neighborhood,” remarks Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, questioning ‘special exemption’ for electricity theft in Larkana
The court, however, directed that a copy of its order be sent to SEPCO authorities.
Questioning SEPCO’s performance, Justice Mazhar said it appeared the utility was unconcerned about electricity theft.
“When electricity is being supplied through illegal hook connections instead of meters, SEPCO itself should have initiated criminal cases. How is electricity being supplied to people who do not even have meters?” he asked.
Drawing a comparison between Karachi and Larkana, the judge remarked, “If a single house in Karachi is found stealing electricity, K-Electric disconnects power to the entire neighborhood and legal cases are registered. Have the people of Larkana been given a special exemption to steal electricity?”
The court also questioned how private individuals were supplying electricity in Larkana and where the money collected from consumers was going. It observed that those involved in providing electricity through illegal hook connections should face strict legal action.
The petitioner told the court that not only his household but the entire locality received electricity through a contractor using illegal hook connections, with residents paying the contractor directly.
Supporting the court’s concerns, the prosecutor said the contractor was stealing electricity and selling it, while the financial burden ultimately fell on law-abiding consumers who paid their electricity bills.
He added that the illegal supply of electricity through private individuals endangered lives and caused significant losses to the state.
