There's been criticism in Pakistan of the decision to set up military courts and deploy more than thirty-thousand troops to check the pilfering of electricity.

Most of the criticism concerns the decision to set up military courts to try suspected defaulters without a right to bail or appeal before a civil court.

Many Pakistani newspapers, in their editorials, have been wary about military involvement.

However, correspondents say the government campaign is likely to be welcomed by most people, because line losses and power thefts are said to be running at more than forty per cent of the power generated.

Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority, WAPDA, is currently facing a deficit equal to one and a quarter billion dollars, almost half of which is owed by influential domestic and commercial customers.