Key Takeaways
- Veteran politician Javed Hashmi and his three sons-in-law have been booked in four cases of alleged electricity theft.
- The FIRs were filed at Multan’s Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station on July 17.
- Mepco reported losses ranging from Rs245,600 to Rs249,100 due to the alleged power theft.
Multan police have booked veteran politician Javed Hashmi and his three sons-in-law in four cases of alleged electricity theft. The FIRs were registered at Multan’s Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station on July 17, under Section 462J of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
According to the complaints lodged by Multan Electric Power Company Limited’s Sub-Divisional Officer Mohammad Bilal, the family members were accused of stealing electricity by inserting a loop in the terminal of Mepco's power meter. The four electricity meters involved have been seized.
The FIR against Hashmi claimed that his alleged theft caused losses worth Rs249,100 to Mepco, while other FIRs reported damages ranging from Rs245,600 for Zahid’s meter to Rs248,400 for Shahid Bahar's actions.
Hashmi and his sons-in-law have not been arrested yet. In a post on X on July 18, Hashmi confirmed that he and his family members had been booked in the cases but denied any wrongdoing, stating, 'They can arrest me; I would not even seek bail.' He added, 'I am sitting in my house; come and arrest me. Neither will I hide anywhere nor will I flee anywhere.'
The FIRs were registered under Section 462J of the PPC, which deals with interference, improper use or tampering with electric meters by domestic consumers.
Qasim, Hashmi’s grandson, confirmed to Dawn that none of the family members had been arrested as yet. He stated that his grandfather and other family members were booked in the cases but did not face immediate detention.
The allegations against Javed Hashmi and his sons-in-law have caused a stir in Multan, with many awaiting further developments in the case.
They can arrest me; I would not even seek bail.
Javed Hashmi, Veteran politician
I am sitting in my house; come and arrest me. Neither will I hide anywhere nor will I flee anywhere.
Javed Hashmi, Veteran politician
