Karachi mayor's powers & KE dues: SC orders Sindh government to resolve issues

Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered Sindh Government to sit with Mayor Karachi to resolve issues related to his powers as well as outstanding electricity dues of civic body, which runs into Rs580 million.
At Karachi Registry, the SC bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed resumed the hearing on the case related to non-payment of electricity dues of KMC to K-Electric (KE), in which Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Secretary Local Government Sindh and high officials of the KE and Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) appeared.
At the outset of hearing, Mayor Karachi complained about lack of powers, which triggered the remarks from the head of the bench, saying that whenever you appeared in the bench, you complained about the lack of powers. "Why are you holding the office and what is your utility in office," Justice Gulzar remarked.
The court also showed its surprise when the mayor told the court that he is passing through mental stress when the court inquired about whether he is satisfied?
Wasim Akthar submitted that why the elections of local governments were held if the Sindh Government was not interested in devolving the powers to mayor.
The Secretary Local Government told the court that the mayor is empowered whatever is written in the law upon the inquiry of the bench as why the powers have not been transferred to mayor.
The court also took exception to the statement of Local Government official when he told the court that mayor didn't come in the meeting whenever he was invited. "Mayor is an elected representative. Why should he come to you?" Justice Gulzar remarked.
The KE counsel told the court that the KMC owes Rs580 million to KE on account of electricity bill. The Sindh Government official told the court that Rs46 million has been paid to the KMC for payment of electricity dues and would transfer Rs 12 million more in month of August.
The Mayor Karachi told the court that the KE also owes Rs7 billion to KMC as power utility didn't pay the rent on its pole and cables, which accumulated from 1982 to 1998.
About payment of electricity bill, the mayor said that KMC has not sufficient fund to pay this bill. "Why are you sitting in the office? Pack up and go to home if you have no fund," the bench stated.
Justice Gulzar said that the KE is a commercial entity and would not provide the electricity free of cost. They would wind up the business, if won't earn the profit.
The court ordered the Sindh Government to sit Mayor Karachi to listen his reservations for transfer of funds for payment of electricity dues. The Sindh Government attorney told the court that provincial secretaries of finance and local government would hold a meeting with Mayor Karachi on Thursday to look into these issues. The bench put off the hearing of the case for two weeks.