Tug-of-war between KE, KMC intensifies

Tug of war between K-Electric and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is intensifying with each passing day as the civic body's anti-encroachment teams demolishing KE's office properties, whereas the power utility is disconnecting electricity of civic body offices. Also the workers of power company and municipality have reportedly made physical contacts when anti-encroachment teams started demolishing the power utility's properties at different city neighborhoods including North Karachi, Qayumabad, and Tipu Sultan road, declaring them 'illegal' in the last couple of days.
The dispute was first irrupted over outstanding dues as Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar in his city council budget speech claimed over Rs 4.4 billion receivables against KE, on June, 27. On the very next day, KE, in an apparent reaction, disconnected power supply of KMC head office blaming the civic body for not paying outstanding dues of Rs 4.11 billion to it.
The power cut forced the city council members to hold budget debate on the lawn of KMC head office instead of the council floor. This apparently forced municipality to conduct action against KE offices. KE termed the corporation's move as sheer violation of law, whereas KMC said the anti-encroachment action is in accordance with the orders by the Supreme Court (SC).
Power company said the court in KE's fresh suit dated July 01, 2019, ordered no action shall be taken against KE without serving two-day notice (requirement under law). KMC has continued to violate the law by damaging KE property which also includes motorcycles being damaged which belonged to KE staff, parked at these locations. A KE guard has also been injured during these activities.
The corporation's officials said KE had illegally converted footpaths of Tipu Sulatan road into parking facilities and constructing security room; however the anti-encroachment teams on Wednesday cleared all encroachments and confiscated KE belongings. Prior to action, KE was served notices, they said.
KE said the court had directed KMC to pay monthly electricity bills from April 2019 onwards to KE out of which no payment has been made since the issuance of court order in April 2019.
KE blamed KMC for retaliatory action against disconnection of electricity supply to Mayor's office on K-Electric properties in violation of law, damaging KE premises. The municipal body owes Rs 4.11 billion to the power utility and the Supreme Court had directed KMC to start paying monthly electricity bills from April 2019 onwards. However, following the disconnection of multiple KMC power connections by KE on account of non-payment of monthly electricity bills since April 2019, KMC retaliated by demolishing some of KE's infrastructure.