Tensions Flare in National Assembly Committee as K-Electric CEO Ejected Over Disrespectful Conduct

Islamabad:The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Industries and Production witnessed intense drama on Tuesday when **K-Electric CEO Moonis Alvi** was **expelled from the meeting** following a heated exchange with lawmakers.

The meeting, chaired by **Sayed Hafi zuddin**, was convened to review the progress on subsidies provided to Karachi’s industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the session quickly turned confrontational before the formal agenda could even begin.

Lawmakers accused CEO Moonis Alvi of **displaying a disrespectful and defiant attitude** toward elected representatives. Committee members strongly condemned his behavior, declaring him **unfit for his current position**, and announced plans to move a **privilege motion** against him.

The confrontation escalated when Alvi questioned why he had been called to appear in person while others, such as members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, were allowed to attend via Zoom. “Why wasn’t I given the Zoom option?” he asked, expressing frustration over being summoned from Karachi.

Committee member **Sayed Raza Ali Gillani** responded firmly, stating: “The chairman has the authority to decide who attends how. I will not compromise on the dignity of the members or myself. He must leave; I will not remain in the meeting while he is present.”

The situation further deteriorated when committee members pressed K-Electric on why it had not **withdrawn court cases** related to the COVID-era subsidy, which was meant to benefit industries. Chairman Hafizuddin noted that K-Electric had filed **3,219 court cases**, and obtained **stay orders from three different courts**, which he claimed **severely harmed Karachi’s industrial sector**.

Alvi’s refusal to withdraw the cases sparked a sharp verbal exchange with Gillani, who criticized the CEO’s dismissive attitude toward parliament. Member **Abdul Hakeem Baloch** remarked that K-Electric officials acted as if they were above accountability, while **Mubeen Arif** called for **criminal proceedings or a privilege motion** against Alvi.

Alvi attempted to defend himself by saying he had left a board meeting to attend the session, prompting Gillani to respond: “You don’t even know how to speak to parliamentarians.”

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce representative also joined the criticism, questioning the legality of prolonged load-shedding. “Where in NEPRA law does it say load-shedding can be done in areas with electricity theft? We face 18-hour outages and are still charged peak-hour rates. Maintenance-based outages in industrial zones are just an excuse.”

The incident underscores growing frustrations among lawmakers and industrial stakeholders over K-Electric’s operations, particularly during times of economic hardship. A formal motion or legal action against the utility’s CEO may follow in the coming days.