PML-N lawmaker’s nephews lead attack on Mepco office

MULTAN: At least 35 people led by a PML-N lawmaker’s nephews on Monday ransacked the Gala Mandi (Grain Market) Subdivision office of Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) over refusing to help in power theft and tempering with the electricity bill.
They attacked the office, slapped and punched the SDO and others staff, Mepco staffers said.Later, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali took notice of the issue and ordered registration of case against the PML-N workers, as police started conducting raids to arrest the accused.
As per details, SDO Salman Saeed was at his office when the PML-N workers carrying a mobile phone forced their way into the building. The two nephews of Abdul Ghaffar Dogar MNA - Amir Dogar and Abid Dogar - were leading the crowd.
“Pick UP this phone and talk to your father Ghaffar Dogar,” Abid asked in a very harsh tone when the SDO was busy in a telephonic conversation. A few seconds delay in picking the mobile phone made the Dogar brothers mad as they started abusing and punching the SDO who took refuge in bathroom to save his life.
But the PML-N workers started damaging the furniture and badly tortured him.According to the Mepco staffers, Salman received threatening phone calls from a PML N worker to temper a bill when the accused was alleged of electricity theft.
He warned the official of worst consequences, if his electricity bill was not altered. When Salman refused to cooperate with them, at least 30-35 armed men belonging to the ruling party attacked him at his office and escaped.
Talking to journalists, Salman said, “I cannot change the regulations. Everything is here transparent and scientific and if someone has been caught with electricity theft, he has to pay the fine and there is no alternative.”
The Mepco officials and workers protested against the incident while boycotting all the working activities and demanded that the culprits should be brought to book immediately. The protesters burned tyres and blocked the Qasimpur Road. They also burned the flags of PML N and chanted slogans against the party.
If Abdul Ghaffar Dogar and his relatives were not arrested in 12 hours then electricity of the whole city would be suspended, said the Mepco workers.Civil society and citizens of Mumtazabad also staged demonstrations against the incident which affected the activities, including repair work, in the locality.
In the meantime, the state minister directed the Mepco chief executive to get a case registered against the culprits. The Mumtazabad police have registered the FIR 422/15 and started raiding to apprehend the accused.