Security Measures: Rehman Malik bans sale of SIM cards

Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered a ban on the sale of unregistered mobile phone SIMS.

ISLAMABAD:
In a bid to uphold nationwide security, Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered a ban on the sale of unregistered mobile phone SIMS.

He said that prepaid SIM cards will now be dispatched to buyers’ residential address and will not be sold directly from company outlets.

“The PTA will block 5% of illegal SIMs in the due process. No change of network will be allowed and only ID cards and utility bills can validate the identity for issuing SIM cards,” the minister said.


He added that sales of satellite phones will be discontinued as well.

Suggesting security measures for the month of Muharram, the interior minister said that all federal and provincial administrations should survey religious sites and hotels to rule out the presence of terrorist elements. He added that Quick Response Force (QRF), bomb disposal squads, and specialised police and paramilitary units will be deployed at sensitive places including Imambargahs during Muharram.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2012.