K-Electric Ordered to Pay Rs 13.5 Million Compensation in Electrocution Death Case

KARACHI: A Senior Civil Judge (Central) has ruled that K-Electric was negligent in a fatal electrocution incident during rainfall and has ordered the utility to pay Rs 13.5 million in damages to the victim’s family.

According to court proceedings, the incident occurred in 2019 when Sheikh Saad Ahmed died after being electrocuted while attempting to save a child who had come into contact with an electricity pole during heavy rain. The deceased was the sole breadwinner of his family.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usman Farooq, argued that despite repeated complaints from local residents, K-Electric failed to take effective safety measures. He maintained that the incident reflected serious negligence on the part of the power utility.

K-Electric’s legal counsel, however, denied responsibility, stating that the pole in question was not owned by the company. The defence claimed that multiple private and third-party cables, including generator and telephone lines, were attached to the pole, and that the electric current originated from those external sources. It further argued that the deceased had placed himself in a hazardous area, contributing to the accident.

The court rejected the defence, observing that electricity providers carry an extraordinary duty of care toward public safety. It held that the presence of third-party wiring did not absolve K-Electric of responsibility and noted that electrification of a public utility pole itself constituted negligence.

The court further stated that the law views attempts to save human life with leniency and acknowledged that the deceased was trying to rescue a child at the time of the incident. It ruled that his actions could not be considered contributory negligence.

The court directed K-Electric to pay the compensation amount under applicable laws within 90 days to the legal heirs of the deceased.