A senior officer of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has been suspended after allegations of bribery linked to the repair of an electricity transformer triggered a wider investigation into the utility’s operations.
Authorities confirmed on Monday that Executive Engineer (XEN) Ahmad Faraz had been suspended on charges of negligence, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.
According to the report, the action follows the earlier suspension of three officials from LESCO’s Rural Pattoki division after complaints of misconduct surfaced.
The controversy began after Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif raised concerns on social media, alleging that LESCO employees had received Rs80,000 to repair a damaged transformer.
The complaint originated from the village of Dholan Chak 27 near Pattoki, where one of the minister’s domestic employees resides.
A day earlier, Federal Power Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said strict measures had already been taken against officials involved in the bribery.
He thanked Khawaja Asif for bringing the issue to public attention and described the episode as an example of the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We are committed to fairness and self-accountability. Questions are raised even from within our own cabinet and government, and we provide answers to improve our performance,” he said.
His remarks came after the LESCO Board ordered a high-level inquiry into the allegations and warned that strict action would be taken if any officials or members of the utility’s management were found involved in corruption or misconduct.
The case has sparked renewed debate over accountability and service standards within Pakistan’s power distribution companies, with authorities promising a thorough investigation into the allegations.
In a statement, the LESCO Board said it had taken immediate notice of the minister’s post and described the alleged demand for money, despite the intervention of a federal minister, as a troubling example of corruption and deep-rooted inefficiencies within the power utility’s system.
The board said a comprehensive inquiry would be conducted and that all officials linked to the matter, including the chief executive officer of LESCO, would be questioned as part of the investigation.
It added that strict disciplinary action would be taken if any member of the utility’s management or staff is found responsible for wrongdoing.
“The allegation that a transformer was replaced after the payment of Rs80,000 is deeply concerning and reflects the kind of practices that undermine public trust,” the board said.
Earlier, taking to X, a social media platform, Asif narrated how he asked a LESCO CEO to send the company’s employees to the village of one of his servants to repair a transformer, which had been burnt.
He said that the LESCO employees received Rs80,000 for the repair of the transformer and did not give any receipt.
“This is the state of affairs that the company employees showed no regard even for me, who was the minister of water and power and is presently the country’s defence minister,” he said in his tweet and wondered that if these employees could hoodwink him, then what would be their attitude towards a common man.
