The Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity, which is costing the company 1 billion rupees ($12.3 million) a month. KESC spokeswoman Ayesha Eirabie told Reuters, “It is astonishing and disturbing to find that certain segments of our society do not even consider theft of electricity ‘theft’, let alone immoral or illegal.”
What exactly is power theft? Typically, noted Reuters, people steal electricity by hooking up a wire to overhead electricity cables, subsequently siphoning off power without paying for it. People can also steal power by slowing down their electricity meters. Eirabie stated, “Most of the people who steal electricity can afford to pay for it but they choose not to…it’s very important for such people to know that electricity theft is illegal, immoral and not acceptable as is any other form of theft.”
While stealing power has an obvious effect on the industry’s revenue, it also disrupts electricity distribution, thereby impacting load-shedding [a rolling blackout that occurs when demand exceeds electricity supply]. Although power shortages are the unfortunate norm in Pakistan, the situation has recently gotten worse. On June 17 and 18, Karachi was paralyzed when millions lost electricity for 19 hours, and on July 11, street protests occurred “after rain and high winds again brought power cuts,” reported the BBC. The issue can be linked to a number of causes, including power theft, increases in demand, and a lack of investment in infrastructure. What is interesting, though, is how the problem appears to be cyclical – that is, the more power is stolen, the more power shortages occur, and the more likely power theft is to increase in its wake.
The fatwa obtained by the KESC is therefore an attempt to not only address the situation, but give it religious legitimacy. In the decree, the religious scholars asserted, “The illicit use of any commodity is a sin and as in this case, the organization producing electricity represents many people. Its use without permission and pay makes it an even bigger sin. Legal action against such people committing electricity theft is fair.” According to BBC News, the fatwa also “directed Muslims to pay back an amount equal to the power they had stolen.”
The KESC’s actions are not surprising given the billions of rupees they stand to lose each year from power theft. However, a major corporation using religious fatwas to bolster their campaign is frankly a little ironic. What do you think?
I never knew Allah concerned himself with the electric company…
I’m not religious, me, but it’s a bit perturbing how easily clerics will jump on commercial bandwagons. Saying stealing electricity is bad is one thing, saying stealing electricity from KESC is another, as is appearing on TV endorsing the products of the Lays multinational as opposed to just saying potato chips are halal.
I think, us in the Christian world, are missing a beat here. Maybe the Archbishop of Canterbury could endorse his favourite cider? At what time did the Pope last pop out for a Burger King? And when will the Russian Orthadox Church finally acknowledge that home taping is killing music?
Saesneg,
I agree. You kind of have to wonder about the logic and motivations behind these religious mullahs endorsing products and corporations – what do they get out of the deal?
I don’t know – publicity to be considered as a religious authority recognised by a corporation?
Is there money in it?
Frankly I was not the least surprised to read Ms. Eirabi’s statement. When the richy rich can steal, why not the poorest of the poor. As for the fatwas, it is yet another lame method to promote the maulvis and their lot and to reach out to those empassioned by their teachings.
Uhoh, I meant I’m surprised to read Ms. Eirabi’s statement. She is living in Pakistan after all and we know that stealing electric is not a crime.
[…] a Fatwa", url: "http://teabreak.pk/when-in-doubt-get-a-fatwa-42/22522/" }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan 1 billion, bbc, cables, electricity distribution, electricity meters, electricity supply […]
As I mentioned on the FB link, why not just go to the local witch and have jaddoo done?
Sorry for the repetition. 😉
I was hoping that you would talk about this. I think the fatwa is a great idea. Involving the religious clergy in a religious society is a great way to put your point across.
Case in point, Bangladesh involved the mullahs and the clergy to promote contraceptives and population control. It worked. Egypt has involved Al-Azhar time and time again to promote moderation. So far it’s been working for them.
A friend of mine works at KESC and he hopes that the fatwa will work. Looking at our society and its religious biases, I hope it works. It’s the consumers who after all pay their bills on time and the correct bills who get hurt the most when electricity is stolen through illicit means.
A fatwah is srs, srs bzns. It really is. It’s a very grave matter, not to be taken lightly at all. And yes, stealing is bad. Very, very unIslamic. But seriously? It’s nowhere on par with the egregious offenses that merit a fatwa.
Will the electric commission’s new logo soon become a white and black flag, so that they can ‘wave’ it at those guilty of siphoning off power before they enact the consequences of this fatwah?
Ridiculous.
Sorry to add, but I forgot – to say nothing of the fact that using a fatwah like this trivializes it. Tomorrow, I just might declare a fatwah on the neighborhood boys that cut across our backyard when they go to play frisbee or football. They’re cutting into my quiet enjoyment of my property, a right I’m guaranteed under law in the United States. Yeah, a fatwah on them! A pox on them, too.
Huma,
I agree – if fatwas can be obtained so easily, then does it blunt their impact? Also, it seems one thing for fatwas to be obtained for moderation or important issues, but another for an electricity company. Power theft is an important issue, but it seems the KESC obtained the fatwa to save themselves billions of rupees rather than because they really feel it’s an “immoral” act. I have to hand it to them though, it’s good strategic messaging on their part.
I do think if power theft does decrease in lieu of this fatwa and power shortages are STILL abound, then that’s an even bigger issue.
This doesn’t surprise me one bit. God’s name is invoked so many times during loadshedding ‘ya Allah, bijli aajaye’ and when you call KESC: ‘Insha Allah, bijli aik ghantay mai aajayegi’. Its unfortunate, but a fatwa may help some of the religiously-inclined to stop illegally consuming electricity.
That said, I may just ask for a fatwa against KESC for subjecting me to to hours of daily torture in this heat.
The funny thing is that when I first saw this article I thought the story was that the ulema had declared a fatwa ON the KESC for the power shortages. Somehow that seems to be more fitting.
The secular crowd are in a uproar over this both here in the USA and Pk. What is wrong with having fatwa on a serious & legitimate issue? Also, fatwas cannot always be obtained easily. The local imam (Side Note: I personally find the term “Mullah” derogatory… when one uses it, it shows off their clear-cut secularism) cannot give just give out fatwa without having the authority to do so.
Ok, apologize for using the term “mullah” in my comment above, though I didn’t use it in the post.
Power theft is a serious and legitimate issue, you are right, PakistaniMD. But there is, you have to admit, an over-saturation of fatwas out there – on a range of issues that range from serious to arguably more “trivial” issues. That being said, if the term fatwa can be thrown around for the WRONG reasons (I think that fatwas for the right reasons are welcome – particularly on issues like those in favor of women’s rights, moderation, etc.), then does that blunt the impact of the fatwas that are done for serious and legit issues such as these?
[…] 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity. Kalsoom at Changing Up Pakistan writes in this post how the idea of a major corporation using religious fatwas to give religious legitimacy to their […]
The way I see it, KESC realizes it doesn’t have the manpower or resources to tackle this problem through legal channels, so they have to resort to shaming the public through the fatwa. As someone who is agnostic, I don’t see what is wrong with the approach, its rather creative. We don’t have a strong sense of civil society in Pakistan and so if religion can nudge some of us in the right direction why not? I know this goes against my ideals of a secular republic, but who cares, we all have to be pragmatic to get things done.
[…] at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan informs that “the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa […]