Legal Petition Filed Against K-Electric in Sindh High Court Over Alleged Unjust Taxes

Karachi: Residents of Gulistan-e-Jauhar have approached the Sindh High Court against K-Electric for sending inflated bills. On behalf of vigilant citizen Ghayoor Hyder, advocate Sohail Hamid filed a constitutional petition asserting that K-Electric has been unlawfully imposing income tax, sales tax, and fuel adjustment charges along with electricity bills. The petition further contends that surcharges and additional charges on bills are also being levied unlawfully.
The petition argues that income tax cannot be enforced without federal government notification. Additionally, the imposition of K-Electric sales tax is deemed illegal. The determination of rates falls under the purview of the Council of Common Interests, not NEPRA. Policy-making regarding electricity is the responsibility of the federal government.
The petitioner also highlighted that capacity charges cannot be fixed arbitrarily and must be based on actual consumption. Any unilateral action by the federal government or any agency could be deemed illegal by the High Court.
In the petition, the federal ministries of water and power, NEPRA, and K-Electric were made respondents.