Court seeks reply in data theft case
The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Monday the information technology and telecommunication secretary to submit a reply over a plea pertaining to the leaking and sale of the sensitive data of 115 million Pakistani citizens on the dark web.
A bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar was informed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) representative that the relevant cyber-security expert had resigned. He sought an extension from the court to submit the necessary reply.
Meanwhile, the petitioner maintained that the arguments of the IT and telecommunication secretary were very important but he had not yet appeared before the court.
He further claimed that the data in question had been provided to the relevant franchise by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
The PTA representative stated that the law was being amended and an authority is being set up in this regard.
Justice Mazhar remarked that the PTA dealt with the matter but NADRA had nothing to do with it.
The court directed the IT and telecommunication secretary to submit a reply and adjourned the hearing until November 24.
Fake domiciles
At another hearing, the court sought objections from the petitioner on a report submitted by the investigation committee on jobs given on the basis of fake domiciles and permanent residence certificates (PRCs).
The petitioner maintained that residents of urban Sindh were deprived of government jobs due to fake domiciles and PRCs used by residents of rural Sindh. The plea moved the court to restrict authorities from issuing fake documentation and investigate the jobs given so far.
The Sindh government submitted a report by the inquiry committee probing the matter.
Sindh assistant advocate general Shehryar Mehar said the provincial government had constituted a committee to investigate the matter, as requested by the petitioner. “The committee reviewed affairs pertaining to the issuance of domiciles in various areas and identified negligent officials,” he said, adding that the committee had also made recommendations to avoid such incidents in the future.
He stated that more committees would be formed at the divisional level to review domicile records for the past decade.
Claiming that the plea was no longer maintainable, he said it should be disposed of and a separate plea filed if there were objections to the report.
The court sought objections from the petitioner on the committee’s report.
Naqeebullah murder
The SHC further sought arguments from the counsel representing accused former Malir SSP Rao Anwar after the completion of arguments by the petitioner’s counsel in a plea seeking the nullification of bail for Anwar and others accused in the Naqeebullah murder case.
The petitioner maintained that the trial court had ignored several important legal aspects of the case while granting bail to the accused.
An anti-terrorism court had earlier ordered the release of Anwar, DSP Qamar and others on bail.
The court sought arguments from Anwar’s counsel on November 18.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2020.