A constitutional petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging undeclared and unannounced load-shedding across various cities in Punjab, including Lahore. Advocate Muhammad Irfan, represented by Muhammad Azhar Siddique Advocate, filed the petition under Article 199 of the Constitution.
Hours of daily power outages reported
According to the petition, residents of Lahore are facing 8 to 10 hours of unannounced electricity load-shedding daily, while some areas of Pakpattan are experiencing outages of 10 to 12 hours per day.
Key demands: forced load management, tripping, and low voltage
The petition calls for judicial action against:
- Undeclared load-shedding
- Forced load management
- Repeated power tripping
- Persistent low voltage issues
It highlights that consumers who pay their electricity bills in full are still being denied a reliable power supply.
Impact on daily life: water, health, education, and business
The petition states that ongoing load-shedding is severely disrupting essential services, including:
- Water supply
- Food security
- Access to medicine
- Internet connectivity
- Online education
- Business operations
- Medical facilities
It further warns that during periods of intense heat, children, the elderly, patients, and persons with disabilities face heightened health risks due to prolonged power cuts.
Constitutional rights violated, petition claims
The petition argues that undeclared load-shedding violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 4, 9, 14, 18, 19-A, and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Citing Article 19-A (right to information), it demands full transparency regarding feeder-wise load-shedding schedules, tripping records, fault data, and restoration timelines.
Demand: public disclosure by LESCO and MEPCO
The petition requests the court direct LESCO (Lahore Electric Supply Company), MEPCO (Multan Electric Power Company), and other power distribution companies to publicly release their feeder-wise load-shedding schedules.
NEPRA investigation and compensation for consumers
The petition also seeks:
- A NEPRA investigation into load management and feeder selection policies
- Bill adjustments, rebates, or legal relief for consumers facing prolonged, documented load-shedding
- Mandatory compensation from LESCO, MEPCO, and other power companies for affected consumers
Court urged to issue immediate interim order
The petitioner has requested an immediate interim order to halt undeclared, arbitrary, and discriminatory load-shedding, except in cases of genuine emergency. It also demands that reasons for outages be documented and disclosed promptly, and that the heads of LESCO and MEPCO be summoned to appear in court personally.
Respondents named in the petition
The petition names the following as respondents:
- Secretary, Power Division
- Chief Executive, LESCO
- Chief Executive, MEPCO
- NEPRA officials
- Other relevant authorities
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