Electricity misuse case may cost Musharraf his "Mr. Clean" claim

Islamabad, June 16 (ANI): Parvez Musharraf may soon lose his self-claimed "Mr. Clean" tag, if Islamabad Electric Power Company (LESCO) proves the case of misusing the cheapest agricultural power tariff against the former Pakistan President.

The Pakistan Public Accounts Committee has found 34 cases of wrong applications of confessional tariff and 14 cases of power theft by the powerful residents of Chak Shahzad, following an inquiry into the case of cheap electricity being provided to Musharraf's farm house in the area.

In a television interview from London, Musharraf claimed to be "Mr clean". The News quoted Musharraf, as saying that he did not ask any one to offer him cheap power tariff and claimed to have paid what he was charged.

After a case against him gets proved, General Musharraf will have to pay 480,000 rupees to LESCO, The News reports.

The inquiry report has already been submitted to Managing Director Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) Tahir Basharat Cheema, who, following the unearthing of the power scam by The News, had ordered a thorough probe into the matter.

According to the inquiry, which covered 522 connections of the farmhouses in Chak Shahzad, a total of 32 residents were found involved in misusing agriculture/tubewell tariff to their advantage, including General Musharraf.

In all these cases, instead of using A-1 (a) or (b) tariffs meant for domestic consumers, these influential were enjoying D-2 (1) tariff that is the most low-priced and subsidized too but strictly meant for agriculture use.

However, the authorities are finding it hard to ascertain if the defective meters got faulty on their own or were tempered with by such residents in connivance with the LESCO authorities. (ANI)