By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Auqaf and Religious Affairs Adnan Qadri has warned of strong protests after the Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO)chief threatened to cut off electricity supply to the Landikotal district headquarters hospital despite partial payment of dues.
He issued a media statement on Friday, Minister Adnan Qadri strongly condemned what he termed as the “inhumane and bullying behaviour” of the Tesco Chief, following fresh threats to cut off electricity at the district headquarters hospital in Landikotal.
According to the minister, despite personal efforts and the payment of five percent (Rs 50 million) of the hospital’s outstanding electricity dues by the provincial health department three weeks ago, the Tesco chief has warned that power supply to the hospital would be suspended within the next seven days if all dues are not paid.
“If this continues, we will launch a protest movement against Tesco and its chief at the provincial and national assemblies and even the Senate,” said Adnan Qadri.
He emphasized that electricity is a basic right of patients and pledged to ensure an uninterrupted power supply at the hospital at all costs. He criticized the federal government, stating, “What has the federation given to the tribal districts besides deprivation? .Now even hospital electricity is being cut.”
The minister also alleged that the hospital’s electricity meter is installed at a Tesco grid station, from where fake bills are being generated and issued to the hospital.
“Tesco had already reduced power supply to the hospital from eight hours to just four,” he revealed.
Qadri further added that during a phone call, the Tesco chief directly threatened to completely shut off the hospital’s power in seven days.
He concluded by urging the Tesco chief to stop issuing threats and instead focus on providing electricity to poor patients.
