GWADAR: A subordinate company of the Power Division has asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file an electricity theft reference against a member of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) appointed by the federal cabinet last week.
In a letter to NAB, the Managing Director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), Musaddiq Ahmed Khan, alleged that Rehamatullah Baloch and another senior official of the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) were involved in abetting electricity theft worth Rs296 million, including Rs163 million government taxes.
The Pepco has referred the case of corruption in power theft against Qesco Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rehamatullah Baloch for appropriate action over his failure to take action against subordinates in illegal power supply to a steel mill.
Balochistan had recommended Baloch as member power regulator and the federal cabinet had recently approved his appointment as the new member to represent Balochistan.
Rehmatullah Baloch is still working as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qesco despite his appointment as member of Nepra having been approved by the federal cabinet last week. Others named in the reference with Mr Baloch include Baz Muhammad, the Manager of Operations of the Qesco, besides two private consumers, including a steel mill owner.
Mr Baloch said that he had in fact ordered the raid after the discovery of the electricity theft in which he was now being unnecessarily dragged, adding that such issues pertained to the level of sub-divisional officers (SDOs) and not chief executives.
He said that when the raid ordered by him discovered the theft, new electricity bills were issued to the consumers as was required under rules, but he was dragged in the matter and was now not being allowed to retire from service.
He confirmed that he had also received a letter of explanation from Pepco and would respond to questions accordingly.
