The top court on Thursday sought a detailed report from the federation pertaining to the payment of outstanding dues by Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) to K-Electric Limited.
K-Electric Limited has challenged a Sindh High Court division bench's verdict making the KWSB through its Managing Director, Federation of Pakistan through Secretaries Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Water & Power, Province of Sindh through Secretary Local Government and City District Government Karachi through its Administrator, respondents.
Resuming the hearing of the matter, a three-member bench led by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali issued directives to the Attorney General for Pakistan office to consult with the Secretary Ministry of Finance and submit a detailed report on outstanding dues by KWSB to K-Electric Limited.
During the course of the proceedings, the government attorney submitted that the KWSB is a government department so the K-Electric cannot treat the department like a routine customer saying a list of customers of the K-Electric includes governor house, army base and other important installations so how the Company can disconnect the power supply of these customers.
To which the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed, "Does it means that the KWSB power supply should not be disconnected even if it failed to pay the outstanding dues of the K-Electric."
The Chief Justice further remarked that the government has not taken measures to resolve the issue of outstanding dues of Rs36 billion to K-Electric. The government counsel said that the federal government shall pay the outstanding dues being a guarantor in the matter.
The bench remarked that sometimes not any party of the case shows interest in adjudication then the court becomes under burden to decide the case saying the government intended that the apex court should solve the state issues in six month whereas hundred of cases are pending before the court. Hearing of the case was adjourned till the first week of May.