Serious questions have emerged over the financial management of Mufti Mehmood Markaz, associated with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, after a document attributed to the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) revealed outstanding electricity dues of Rs65 million (Rs6.5 crore).
The letter, dated December 19, 2024, identifies the Markaz, situated on Peshawar Ring Road in Achini Payan, as a chronic electricity defaulter. It concerns unpaid bills against the commercial and secretariat electricity connections registered at the facility.
According to the document, PESCO officials were directed to serve a final seven-day notice, demanding full payment of the outstanding amount. In case of non-payment, the instructions called for disconnection of electricity, removal of meters and transformers, and the initiation of recovery proceedings.
The letter also ordered an audit to investigate possible illegal electricity connections and unbilled consumption. However, it does not establish that electricity theft actually occurred.
The reported Rs6.5 crore in arrears raises questions about how such a substantial amount accumulated and why the dues remained unpaid. The administration of Mufti Mehmood Markaz has yet to clarify whether the amount was subsequently cleared, disputed or settled through another arrangement.
PESCO’s instructions also made it clear that no installment facility could be offered without prior written approval from its headquarters.
The matter has drawn attention to the financial affairs of an institution associated with a political leader who frequently speaks about accountability, public welfare and Islamic values. The administration now faces questions over its handling of public utility payments and whether the outstanding liabilities have been addressed.
