ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (APP): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday directed the power distribution companies (DISCOs) to improve their performance in 15 days and submit a report in that regard.

“NEPRA will conduct a hearing after three weeks to review the performance of DISCOs”, a news release said.

NEPRA heard the request of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPAG) regarding monthly fuel adjustment charges of Rs 2.07 per unit for the month of July. However, during the hearing the CPPAG reviewed its request from Rs. 2.07 to Rs. 1.57 per unit raise on account of FCA.

The Authority asked as to why the cost of electricity production with coal was higher despite the decrease in the price of coal while asking the CPPGA to submit performance report of coal power plants.

It observed that some expensive power plants were being run due to low capacity of Gatti and some other grids for last few years.

The Authority asked National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) to submit a report as to why the capacity of Gatti and some other grids was not increased.

NEPRA also directed the DISCOs to take action for reducing line loses and stopping electricity theft.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought details of cases against Imaan Mazari Advocate and stopped the authorities from arresting her in any other case registered after August 20.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case.

At the outset of hearing, Salman Akram Raja Advocate pleaded that two cases had been registered against Imaan Mazari in which the sections of anti-terrorism law had been applied. As she was released after getting bail in two cases, she was arrested again in the third case, he added.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that the court had asked Imaan Mazari to prevail upon her mother Shireen Mazari not to say certain words and she gave assurance in that regard but later she even could not even control herself to utter such words.

The lawyer said that one should be sentenced for committing a crime, but the case against his client had been registered in bad intention.

He prayed the court to stop the authorities from arresting Mazari in any other case and also seek details of cases against her. The court instructed the Interior Ministry to present a report in that regard after collecting details from the provinces also.

The court also stopped the police from arresting of the accused in any other case and ordered that she should not be shifted out of the Federal Capital.

The case was then adjourned till Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (APP): A special court on Wednesday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman for 14 days in the cipher case, registered under the Official Secrets Act and sought comments on his post-arrest bail petition.

Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqairnain, who heard the case in camera at the Attock Jail, marked the attendance of PTI chief and later adjourned the case ill September 13, while the post arrest bail case was put off till September 2.

At the outset of hearing, the legal team of PTI also prayed the court to set aside the notification of Law Ministry regarding the trial of former prime minister in jail and hold the same in open court.