Court orders K-Electric to pay Rs13.5 million in compensation in electrocution case

Published on: May 16, 2026 11:00 AM

A Karachi court has ordered K-Electric to pay Rs13.5 million in compensation to the family of a man who died from electrocution while attempting to save a child during rainfall in 2019.

The verdict was issued by a senior civil judge in Karachi Central, who held the power utility responsible for negligence in maintaining safe electricity infrastructure in public spaces.

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According to court documents, the victim, Sheikh Saad Ahmed, lost his life after coming into contact with an electrified pole while trying to rescue a child from danger during heavy rain. The court ruled that the incident fell under the Fatal Accidents Act and directed K-Electric to pay the compensation amount within 90 days.

In its written judgment, the court observed that electricity providers carry an exceptional duty of care toward public safety. It stated that the presence of electric current in a public utility pole itself constituted evidence of negligence and reflected a failure to ensure a secure power distribution system.

The court also rejected arguments that other wires attached to the pole by third parties relieved K-Electric of responsibility. It noted that the company remained accountable for ensuring public safety around electrical installations regardless of the presence of telecom or generator cables.

The judge further remarked that the deceased’s effort to save a child could not be considered negligence, adding that the law treats attempts to save human life with leniency.

During proceedings, the plaintiff’s lawyer argued that residents had previously complained about safety risks in the area, but no effective action was taken. He said the deceased was the sole breadwinner of his family and was supporting both household expenses and his education.

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K-Electric’s legal team maintained that the pole was not owned by the company and claimed current leakage came from generator wiring rather than its own infrastructure. However, the court dismissed these arguments and ruled the company negligent.

The judgment is being viewed as a significant legal precedent in cases involving public electrocution incidents and corporate accountability for urban infrastructure safety.