SHC postpones hearing of data theft case, returns Centre's reply

Sensitive data of 115 million Pakistanis up for sale for Rs350m on dark web, claims petitioner

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday refused to hear a petition pertaining to the alleged sale of sensitive data of 115 million Pakistanis on the dark web.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Omar Sial and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi, presided the hearing of the case. The bench also returned the reply submitted by the federal government on the petition.

We have noted that you file such petitions only for publicity, remarked Justice Sial addressing the petitioner, advocate Tariq Mansoor.

The bench remarked that it could not hear the petition today, and adjourned the hearing indefinitely.

The court will likely conduct further hearings on the petition once it resumes after the summer break.

At an earlier hearing of the case, the petitioner stated before the court that sensitive data of Pakistani citizens had been put up for sale for Rs350 million on the dark web on April 10.

It comprises computerised national identity card numbers, complete addresses, contact information and other personal information of cellular phone users, he said.

Mansoor pointed out that in view of the breach, the data of more than 160 million mobile phone users was at risk.

He moved the bench - comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed - to order the dismissal of the NADRA chairperson due to the incident of data theft.

The advocate claimed that the matter had also been brought to the notice of the Senate’s standing committee but authorities were trying to sweep it under the carpet.

Terming the matter “critical,” Justice Mazhar had inquired what action could be taken against those responsible for the data breach and theft.

To which, Mansoor replied that they could be taken to task under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, Official Secrets Act, 1923 and the Pakistan Inquiries Commission.

On previous hearings, the court has issued notices to the interior ministry, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), and other parties, seeking their replies.