Key Takeaways
- Multan police have registered four cases against veteran politician Javed Hashmi and his sons-in-law.
- The cases are based on alleged electricity theft using tampered meters, causing significant losses to the power company.
- No arrests have been made so far, but Hashmi has confirmed the booking.
Multan police have registered four cases against veteran politician Javed Hashmi and his sons-in-law Shahid Bahar, Zahid, and Shahzeb over alleged electricity theft. The charges are based on tampering with electric meters, which resulted in significant financial losses to the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco).
According to the first information reports lodged at Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station on July 17 under Section 462J of the Pakistan Penal Code, each consumer was found to be stealing electricity by inserting a loop in the terminal of the company’s power meter. The meters were registered in their respective names and were seized by Mepco.
The FIR against Javed Hashmi states that the alleged power theft caused losses of Rs249,100 to the power company. The other three FIRs claim losses of Rs248,400 linked to Shahid Bahar’s meter, Rs245,600 linked to Zahid’s meter and Rs247,600 linked to Shahzeb’s meter.
The complaints were filed by Multan Electric Power Company’s Sub-Divisional Officer Mohammad Bilal. Mepco’s inspection team visited the premises and found that each consumer was stealing electricity using a loop in the terminal of the power meter.
In a social media post on July 18, Javed Hashmi confirmed that he and his sons-in-law had been booked for the alleged theft but dismissed the cases as mere allegations. He wrote: 'They can arrest me; I would not even seek bail. I am sitting in my house; come and arrest me. Neither will I hide anywhere nor will I flee anywhere.'
Hashmi’s grandson Qasim confirmed that no family member has been arrested yet, adding to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating electricity theft, a common issue across Pakistan. The incident also brings into focus the need for stricter regulations and better metering systems to prevent such incidents.
They can arrest me; I would not even seek bail.
Javed Hashmi, Veteran politician
