Lahore: A disturbing case of alleged corruption and abuse of authority has emerged from the Ravi Road Division, Shahdara Subdivision, Fedar Shahdara Town, raising serious concerns about accountability within the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO). At the center of the controversy is a meter inspector identified as Javed, who is accused of demanding bribes, facilitating electricity theft, and harassing consumers leaving even widowed women to suffer.
The case surfaced after Kausar Parveen, a widow residing at Ghulam Safdar Main Road, Shahdara, submitted a formal application to senior authorities seeking correction of her electricity bill and the installation of a new electricity meter. According to her written complaint, the electricity meter installed at her residence was stolen in June last year, for which a formal FIR was duly registered. Officials from the relevant department reportedly visited the site, verified the incident, and confirmed that the theft was genuine.
Following the theft, Kausar Parveen submitted an official application for the installation of a new meter. During the interim period, she was instructed to use Meter No. S-537327, which was temporarily linked to her connection. However, billing records clearly show that charges on this meter continued to rise steadily over time, placing an increasing financial burden on the household.
When the widow repeatedly approached the department for the installation of a permanent new meter, the situation took a shocking turn. Instead of resolving her issue, officials accused her of electricity theft and imposed an inflated and disputed bill, which she was told must be paid without delay.
In her application, Kausar Parveen has categorically rejected these allegations, highlighting serious contradictions. She points out that the meter was stolen in June, while the disputed billing has been raised from March onwards, despite the fact that all bills up to May had already been paid. She further states that if there had been any instance of electricity theft, the department was legally bound to provide evidence such as a site inspection report, prior written notice, photographs, or official documentation none of which were ever issued.
Most alarmingly, she alleges that during her repeated visits to the office, certain staff members demanded illegal gratification, assuring her that the bill would be corrected only after payment of a bribe. She claims that meter inspector Javed is openly running what locals describe as a “bribery market” in the area, exploiting vulnerable consumers through fear, false accusations, and intimidation.
Being a widow, Kausar Parveen says the ordeal has caused her severe mental distress, financial pressure, and humiliation. “Instead of support and justice, I was threatened and pushed toward paying bribes,” she stated in her appeal.
Civil society members and local residents have strongly condemned the incident and have urged the LESCO Chief to take immediate notice. They are demanding an independent inquiry, suspension of the accused officials, correction of the disputed bill, immediate installation of a new electricity meter, and strict disciplinary action against all those found responsible.
Observers warn that if such allegations are ignored, public trust in utility institutions will continue to erode, and corruption at lower operational levels will become further entrenched.
The case of Kausar Parveen is not merely a billing dispute it is a critical test of whether powerful institutions will stand with the vulnerable or allow corruption to silence them. All eyes are now on LESCO’s top management to see whether justice will finally be delivered.