KARACHI: Bureaucracy of K-Electric, NEPRA and Ombudsman’s office have joined hands to victimise well-known expert on electric affairs Aneel Mumtaz by disconnecting his residence power supply without any reasonable justification for last month, which is being lingered on through traditional red-tapism.     

Aneel’s supply was disconnected by KE on May 12, 2023. KE claimed that dues of Rs 188,411 were outstanding against consumer while consumer claimed he had already overpaid to KE which was not being adjusted or heard by corrupt officials of KE.

Affected consumer filed complaint against KE with NEPRA officials but they did nothing to redressal of his complaint. After this hopeless attitude, complainant approached office of Federal Ombudsman against this maladministration. Meanwhile, NEPRA through its letter June 9, 2023 informed Ombudsman that she had suspended further proceedings in view of matter that Complainant has approached office of Wafaqi Mohtasib, Karachi and matter is subjudice before office of Wafaqi Mohtasib. Hence, poor consumer’s sufferings continued in scorching summer heats, by violating basic human rights.

Earlier, Secretariat of Wafaqi Mohtasib after receiving complaint of Aneel Mumtaz addressed to Registrar NEPRA on June 1, 2023 that complainant had alleged maladministration by NEPRA on subject matter. Registrar was called upon by Riaz Ahmed Memon, Associate Advisor to redress grievance and reply, including rebuttal, if any within seven days. Further extension in submission of reply, would be considered only for seven days if your request is received with full justification within seven days of receipt of this letter. He called that hearing of this case will be held on June 12, 2023 in his office.

Riaz Ahmed Memon clearly advised NEPRA Registrar in this letter to depute an officer fully conversant with facts of case and authorised to give statement/make commitment on behalf of Agency during hearing. Officer so deputed should bring complete record of case and produce attested legible copies of all supporting documents/relevant laws, rules, regulations, etc. In case you fail to submit reply within due date or your representative does not appear for hearing, case will be decided ex-parte on basis of available documents and competent authority of Agency would be asked to take disciplinary action against concerned officer as specified in Clause 1 of Article 14 of P.O.1 of 1983 and Sub-Regulation 5 of Regulation 15 of Wafaqi Mohtasib Regulations, 2013.    

Most interesting fact is that NEPRA officials did not arrive on said date and time while complainant was very well there in time. NEPRA officials were later called on phone and treated as special guests. They arrived at 11:30 am and then hearing was commenced that was proved fruitless consumer is still suffering in hands of bureaucracy of three different agencies while this was matter of most urgent nature in present circumstances, complainant stated.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 16 2023

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