K-Electric (KE), Karachi’s electricity provider, reported on Tuesday that its staff were attacked, and some were held hostage during an operation targeting electricity theft in certain areas of the city. This comes as several parts of Karachi saw widespread protests against power outages and KE’s city-wide anti-theft campaign.
The protests, which involved the use of heavy vehicles to block major roads, were reportedly organized in response to frequent load-shedding and KE’s efforts to curb energy theft. Traffic alerts indicated significant disruptions, with long queues forming on key roads including Sharae Faisal, Chaudhry Khaleeq uz Zaman Road, Korangi Road, Teen Talwar, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Civic Center, Sohrab Goth, Korangi Expressway, and the Lyari Expressway.
It took hours for traffic to return to normal in some areas, such as Sunset Boulevard and Hino Chowrangi, after the protests ended, according to police reports.
KE spokesperson Imran Rana, in a statement on the social media platform X, said the anti-theft operation was conducted in Gizri, Punjab Colony, and nearby areas. Following the operation, protests were staged by what Rana described as “power thieves” attempting to forcefully restore electricity.
He further claimed that KE staff were attacked, harassed, and held at gunpoint during the incident. KE, in its official statement, urged law enforcement agencies to take action against those involved in electricity theft and the threats against its staff.
“KE remains committed to taking strong measures against electricity theft across the city,” the spokesperson added.
