PHC issues warrants against CEOs, GMs, directors of Telcos

Chief Justice of PHC Dost Muhammad Khan says illegal SIMs are being used in acts of terrorism.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued bailable warrants against several general managers, chief executives and directors of various telecom operators with regards to illegal Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) being used in the province, Express News reported on Wednesday.

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.