Iesco registers 7 FIRs under Act 462-I against persons involved in power theft

Rawalpindi

The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) authorities have registered seven FIRs according to new Act 462-I ‘non-bail able and non-compromise’ against those involved in power theft in different localities in Rawalpindi Cantonment.

The concerned authorities have registered FIRs here in Police Station Cantonment, Police Station Sadar Barooni, Police Station Civil Lines and Police Station Airport. The Iesco authorities have registered three FIRs in Gulrez, one in Saddar, one in Dhoke Chiraghdin, one in Jhanda and one in Gulistan Colony Muhallah Mehmoodabad.

Iesco Executive Engineer (XEN) Rawalpindi Cantonment Muhammad Kashif Shah told ‘The News’ that I have started action against power theft on the directions of Chief Executive (Iesco) Dr Engineer Rana Jabbar. During crackdown, we have registered seven FIRs against commercial and domestic consumers those involved in power theft in different localities of cantonment. We have registered FIRs according to new act of 462-I which was non-bail able and non-compromise able, he said. He also said that government strictly given us instructions not to spare anybody in this regard. New act is strict particularly for a common man but we are helpless, he claimed.

The Punjab government introduced six sections against power theft 462-H, 462-I, 462-J, 462-K, 462-L and 462-M.

According to the new act introduced by Punjab government that Section 462-H is non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face three years imprisonment or fine of Rs1 crore or both punishments, Section 462-I is non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face three years imprisonment or fine of Rs30,00,000 or both punishments, Section 462-J is non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face two years imprisonment or fine of Rs10,00,000 or both punishments, Section 462-K is non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face three years imprisonment or fine of Rs60,00,000 or both punishments, Section 462-L is non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face two years imprisonment or fine of Rs25,00,000 or both punishments and Section 462-M non-bail able and non-compromise able and convict will face seven years imprisonment or fine of Rs30,00,000.

Iesco Legal Manager Qazi Muhammad Arif has confirmed that all sections are non-bail able and non compromise able. Nobody could do anything except paying fine or facing imprisonment, he claimed.

The senior lawyers including advocate Malik Abdul Hameed, advocate Malik Rafaqat Awan, advocate Sanaullah Zahid, advocate Shahbaz Rajpoot and several others said that the new act of Punjab government is too much strict creating fear and panic among public. Even the accused of Section 302 and Section 1-C could get bail but these Sections are non-bail able and non-compromise able. Innocent consumers facing fear and panic in this regard, they said.  It is worth mentioning here that government makes rules to curb sin rather than men.