KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has issued notices to NEPRA and K-Electric in response to a petition against sending a bill of Rs63,000 for a vacant house.
The petitioner Imran Ali pointed out that the usual monthly electricity bill stands at Rs 21,000. At the beginning of July, he sent the family to the village and locked his house for a month. Surprisingly, K-Electric sent a bill amounting to Rs63,000 for zero consumption, covering a two-month period during which the house was unoccupied. The court has scheduled a hearing for September 13 and requested responses from NEPRA authorities and K-Electric.
Additionally, the Sindh High Court has extended its notice to the DG SBCA and the Advocate General Sindh regarding illegal construction within the CP and Berar Cooperative Housing Society. The court has ordered authorities to take immediate action.
According to the filed petition by Tariq Mansoor Advocate, Block 7/8 Plot No. 158 in the society, covering an area of 306 square yards, is currently undergoing construction for a multi-storied building. Despite being a residential plot, unauthorized commercial construction is underway on the site.
Countrywide Protests Spark Road Closures In Response To JI’s Call
Meanwhile, major cities across the country witnessed road closures and business shutdowns because of the nationwide strike called by JI to protest against soaring electricity bills. Traffic on the National Highway experienced significant delays.
Dozens of political activists ignited tire fires and blocked major roads in Karachi early on Saturday, causing the city to head towards a shutdown. Concurrently, lawyers in Karachi boycotted the courts.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a nationwide strike today to protest against soaring electricity bills.
In Islamabad, the trader community launched a shutter-down strike against inflation and exorbitant electricity bills. However, a few shops remained open in the Aabpara market.
For the past week, people across the country have been staging demonstrations, demanding a reduction in electricity prices. Nonetheless, the caretaker government has refused, citing a breach of the loan agreement with the IMF if such a move is made.
On Saturday morning, dozens of individuals blocked the National Highway near Quaidabad and Gulshan-e-Hadeed, setting tires on fire and disrupting traffic on the busy highway. Long queues of trucks carrying goods formed at the city’s entry and exit points.
The red People’s Bus Service buses were also not operational.
A similar situation unfolded in other parts of the city. Protesters left burning tires in the middle of the road in the Patel Para area.
