Chief Justice of PHC Dost Muhammad Khan says illegal SIMs are being used in acts of terrorism. PHOTO: FILE
Chief Justice (CJ) of PHC Dost Muhammad Khan said, “Illegal SIMs are being used in acts of terrorism."
“Do not force us to take strict action against Telcos as illegal SIMs are a threat to national security,” he further stated.
He requested director general (DG) NAB and DG Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to carry out necessary investigations. He had made a similar request to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Government earlier regarding the one million illegal Afghan SIMs in the province.
CJ Khan had ordered action against illegal SIMs in the province on September 24.
He had earlier stated that if a company’s SIM is used in terrorism, bomb blasts or any other criminal activities then the company will have to compensate the victims.
CJ Khan had said selling illegal SIM cards results in the evasion of millions of rupees in taxes and could negatively affect the country’s security, adding that the court could not remain silent on the issue.
The PHC took suo motu notice of the illegal sale of mobile SIM cards in the country, particularly in K-P, on September 20. The court directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman, chief executives of cellular companies, K-P chief secretary, K-P Advocate General Latif Yousafzai, interior secretary and Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A Malik to submit a report and appear before the court.
COMMENTS (18)
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@FS: What the PHC is implying is the Afghan SIMs being used in millions is loss to our govt bcz it is illegal....dude !
Manufacturers of these SIMS are not being punished....distributors are!
What exactly is an "illegal" SIN card ?
Why are telcos being punished ? Are the manufacturers of guns, knives and fertilizer being punished for acts of terrorism committed across Pakistan ?
Grey termination of voice traffic onto these SIMs is for tax evasion.
What utter nonsense. Punishing business for the lack of state security measures is pathetic. If the logic of the court follows then Toyota should be held responsible if the terrorists use a corolla in an attack. The point being that there is no way for a telco to judge if someone will use a sim for a particular act. I don't believe the court will be able to implement anything. In the end they will achieve nothing but scaring off further investment in Pakistan and making the telco sector further nervous.
What tax evasion?!!
The SIM Activation tax on a SIM is paid directly by the mobile company to the govt. as soon as the the SIM is switched on (at Rs. 250 per number)! Further, sales tax and withholding tax are auto deducted from every recharge on the mobile phone. Whoever bought the SIM illegally i.e. without registering really has no mean or mechanism of avoiding paying that tax!
Someone is seriously misleading the Court.
@citizen dude you guys and your talks and argument ! I dono how to even respond to this lame argument of yours. So basically if warid, telenor, mobilink, ufone, zong sims issued to unidentifiable personnel and still activated by these companies. Who is responsible if not they themselves ? I pay 15,000 in tax, some one give me 1000 sims please. My dad pay around 100000 in tax i believe, please lend him 10000 sims and some C4s.
A step in the right direction. All SIM should be linked to NICs and if someone mobile is lost then they should register FIR so that there is no flaw in the whole process.
@ Citizen bro they r taking million of public and with les tax is paying to government.
It is a good step by PHC. The arrest order should apply uniformly thought out the country.
claps . all praise to PHC . Does the court knows how much tax telcos have been contributing ? Making our lives easier ? Why all effort is being done to shun foreign investment ? This was single most industry flourishing in land of pure but know the the recession phase has started . It wont be long these investors will be closing down businesses . Yes we all will be returning to stone age called PTCL . PHC decsion is very shameful . I strongly condemn it . It is job of agencies to probe the possible terrorist attacks . Please arrest the agency heads for failure in providing intelligence services. Telcos alone cannot be deemed responsible . and ordering arrests of CEO, directors is no solution . Bio metric verfication system is possible solution . Government should make life easier for investors rather then making them flee .
wow...Effects of governemnt's failure on governance and Law & order resulting in anti-business ....
warrants should be non bailable only then they will do what CH PHC is asking.
Profitability has limit , Specially when it involves precious life. Rightly done
To start with each person should be allowed one SIM the rest should be blocked.
A good move by the court. It was badly needed