The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has expressed strong displeasure over the incompetence of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) officials during the hearing of a case involving the alleged theft of gas worth Rs1.7 million. The court remarked that company officials remain confined to air-conditioned rooms while the poor are forced to pay exorbitant gas prices.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi and comprising Justice K.K. Agha, heard the case on Tuesday.
During the proceedings, Justice Rizvi questioned why SNGPL failed to detect the loss of gas worth Rs1.7 million in a timely manner and demanded evidence supporting the raid. The company's counsel maintained that the raid established that a domestic gas meter was being used for commercial purposes at a hospital.
Justice Agha observed that the gas company should have addressed the theft or misuse of gas with greater seriousness. The bench emphasized that the utility provider's failure to monitor its network effectively reflects a systemic lack of accountability.
Justice Rizvi noted that while the common man suffers from inflated bills, the company's inability to curb theft highlights a lack of administrative oversight. The court further questioned the internal audit mechanisms of the organization.
It was pointed out that such significant losses suggest either negligence or collusion, both of which are unacceptable in a public utility sector. The counsel for SNGPL attempted to justify the delay in reporting, citing procedural hurdles, but the court remained unconvinced.
The bench reiterated that the burden of proof lies with the utility company when accusing consumers of theft. Consequently, the court directed the authorities to produce concrete evidence of the alleged theft and a detailed inventory of items seized during the raid at the next hearing.
The court also requested a comprehensive report on the steps taken by the company to prevent such incidents in the future. The legal representatives were warned that failure to provide substantial evidence could lead to further scrutiny of the company's operations.
The proceedings highlighted the growing frustration within the judiciary regarding the management of public sector utilities. The court's firm stance serves as a warning to other utility providers as well.
The case was subsequently adjourned sine die, pending the submission of the required documentation by the SNGPL legal team.