The finance director of Breshna, Mirwais Alimi, told the BBC that the central prison was among its worst clients.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

"We can't cut electricity to Kabul Water Directorate because it will deprive water to a lot of people, " Mr Alimi said.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

"We have decided to cut the electricity of the central prison during the daytime to send a message, " Mr Alimi said.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

In 2000 Hoji Alimi, an Iranian-born biologist, bought the license for the technology for his company, Oculus, originally started to develop a cancer treatment.

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But Mr Alimi reserved praise for the defence ministry which it said paid all its bills on time despite being a big consumer of electricity.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

Mr. Alimi has been jailed four times in the past decade.

WSJ: A Long March to Seize the Heart of Cairo

When Mr. Alimi and others reached the Nile that afternoon and sought a way to cross the river, tear gas began to rain down on marchers.

WSJ: A Long March to Seize the Heart of Cairo

Mr Alimi said the ministry of justice, which administers the prison, and the ministries of information and culture, higher education and communications were the other big defaulters.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

Mr Alimi says the company is also owed money by the offices of several provincial governors and police chiefs and would consider cutting electricity to those offices should they fail to pay their bills.

BBC: Threat to cut electricity to Afghanistan's central jail

Mr. Alimi's mother, Ikram Yussuf, 54 years old, served six months in prison in 1977, during the historic bread riots, the last time Egyptians took to the streets en masse to protest rising prices.

WSJ: A Long March to Seize the Heart of Cairo