LAHORE: An adjournment motion submitted by a treasury member in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday, accusing the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) of systemic corruption, severe over-billing, forced power outages and misconduct in Chunian’s Allahabad area, prompted the speaker to demand a probe into the distribution company’s practices.

The motion submitted by treasury member Ahsan Raza Khan levels serious allegations against Lesco officials, including extortion of Rs150,000 from an area resident on the pretext of removing high-tension wires, and resorting to arm-twisting tactics when the work remained incomplete.

According to the document, Lesco officials allegedly filed false electricity theft cases against consumers, which were subsequently disproved by police video evidence, and disconnected the power supply to their homes.

The motion also highlighted widespread complaints regarding extortion by Lesco officials for transformer repairs, delayed meter replacements and up to 18 hours loadshedding daily. Mr Khan alleged that an unbridled corruption network, extending from linemen to top executives, was responsible for these ills.

Voicing concern during an informal media interaction at the Governor House, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan condemned the recent Lesco raids in Kasur as illegal, citing reports of harassment, violation of privacy and collective power disconnections punishing entire villages over line losses.

Expressing concern over the plight of the flood-affected residents facing excessive billing and demands for bribes for bill corrections, the speaker said he has raised the issue with Federal Power Minister Awais Leghari and will also take it up with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Criticising the utility officials for remaining confined to their air-conditioned offices, Mr Khan stressed that collective punishment over line losses or individual power theft is unlawful.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026