KHAIRPUR: Several members of Jatoi community on Saturday continued their hunger strike for the 51st day in front of the Sukkur press club over non-arrest of suspected killers and land grabbers. Reportedly, protesters including Dilmrad Jatoi, Edan Jatoi, Yasin jatoi accused builder Rao Shakir and his accomplices Mehar Jatoi, Panah Lalabo. Ghaffar Rajpute, Essa Malik, Ayoob Seelro and others of occupying their land with the help of revenue officials and Airport police. They further alleged that many times assailants had attacked their homes, and recently one member of their community was killed and six people were injured in an attack. They claimed that despite of an FIR (First Information Report) against them, police have not taken any action and instead officers were pressurising them to withdraw the case. Moreover, they said that these criminals were wanted to police in many heinous crimes. They appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and Chief of Army Staff (CAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to take notice of the matter and deliver justice according to the Constitution of Pakistan and ensure provision of protection to them. Purportedly, officers of the Airport police station and Bachal Shah police post have been backing builder Rao Shakir who along with notorious criminals has occupied land of poor people while more than 200 cases have been reported against them in various courts of Sukkur and other cities. SEPCO consumers allege massive corruption behind heavy detection bills Electric Power Company (SEPCO) authorities have been allegedly violating the Sindh High Court’s orders by serving heavy electricity detection bills to its consumers in various localities of Khairpur while frequent power outages have brought their life to a standstill. Reportedly, hundreds of consumers on Saturday accused SEPCO authorities of inefficiency and inability, and thus failing to control electricity theft and revenue losses in the region. They alleged that many SEPCO officials have been ‘looting’ millions of rupees from consumers on a monthly basis. “They sent electricity detection bills worth Rs12,000-Rs20,000 to 2,300 customers who were using air-conditioners and bills worth Rs3,000-Rs12,000 to other customers by ignoring our monthly average since March 2017,” they said, adding that several complaints were lodged with SEPCO officials in this regard, but to no avail. Moreover, they claimed that he had visited SEPCO offices many times for correction of their bills, however officers forced them to pay 40 to 50 percent of their bills’ amounts to them for correcting their bills. Consumers claimed that about 300,000 to 500,000 electricity units were being stolen in Khairpur city every month, and accused meter readers including Hyder Ali Soomro, Hayat Shaikh, Shafi Muhammad Shaikh, line superintendents, sub-divisional officers (SDOs), metering supervisors, revenue staff and other officers of malpractices and wrongdoings. A consumer Farhan Mahar told the media that he has been receiving detection bill worth Rs12,000- Rs20,000 every three months for the last few years, and subsequently has been visiting SEPCO office for ‘correction’ of his bill. He revealed that he paid Rs15,000 to a meter reader, who ‘negotiated’ with SDO, line superintendent and executive engineer (X-En), and his bill was adjusted from Rs48,000 to Rs3,200. A social activist Ghaffar Mahar said that officials were insincere in resolving their issues while SEPCO staff has been ‘looting’ consumers and committing massive corruption in their department. He also accused same meter readers of taking bribe from consumers with a warning that otherwise they would be issued heavy detection bills. Meanwhile, other consumers said that such practices were an utter violation of the Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan, and expressed profound concerns over ‘silence’ being observed by the Federal Investigation Bureau (FIA), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other courts of the Law in this regard. They further revealed that SEPCO authorities have appointed a line superintendent as the Khairpur subdivision’s SDO, and all malpractices were being managed under his supervision. They appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) to take Suo motu notice for probing into alleged corruption of billions of rupees by SEPCO officials. SALU holds lecture on ‘Transform Yourself’ for students’ career counselling The Shah Abdul Latif University’s (SALU) Students Advancement Fund Endowment (SAFE) on Saturday organised an extension lecture on the topic “Transform Yourself” at its campus in Khairpur. Reportedly, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) Prof Dr Muhammad Yousaf Khushk presided over the programme in which a motivational speaker from Chicago, USA, Nauman Khan Azeemi delivered a speech. “Youths are invaluable asset of the country as the future lies on their shoulders, whereas educational institutes polish their skills and guide them towards better career opportunities,” Khushk said, adding that such lectures could be vital for students in terms of their career counselling. Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Prof Dr Imdad Hussain Sahito said that youths were the future and institutes need to perform effectively for them. Meanwhile, Nauman said that Pakistani universities have been providing quality education to youths. He motivated students to focus on their career objectives and spend their energies for learning, skills and development. He expressed his gratitude to SALU officials for organising such an event at the university. He also praised efforts of the PVC and SAFE’s executive director. Scholars present thesis in PhD research in SALU Four research scholars from the department of Teacher Education on Saturday presented their thesis in the Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) in Khairpur. Faculty of Physical Sciences Dean Prof Dr Mumtaz Hussain Mahar presided over the session, whereas Prof Dr Irshad Hussain and Prof Dr Khalid Khursheed supervised their presentation. A PhD scholar Ghazala Shaheen presented her doctoral thesis on “Impact of socio-economic background on students’ learning achievement at the primary level in Khairpur.” Another scholar Muhammad Bux Shar presented his research thesis on “An analysis of the impact of demonstration method on students’ learning in science subject at the elementary level in Khairpur.” Furthermore, another scholar Abdul Majeed Shar presented his research thesis on “Effect of punishment on students’ motivation towards study at the primary level in Khairpur: An analysis”, while Zafar Hussain Talpur presented his research on “Evaluation of factors affecting students’ performance and learning at the secondary school level in Khairpur.” Prof Dr Mumtaz Hussain lauded their efforts and declared their presentations ‘successful’. A large number of scholars and teachers were also present on the occasion. Published in Daily Times, October 21st 2018.