The Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected the response of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in a case related to the illegal sale of mobile SIM cards.
During the hearing, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa expressed strong dissatisfaction over the failure to stop the PTA.
He directed the PTA Chairman to present a comprehensive and detailed response at the next hearing. National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Hashmat Kamal and other officials.
Justice Bajwa instructed Hashmat Kamal to provide further details and research results, noting that this problem comes in the field of expertise and requires a deep investigation.
The NCCIA director told the court that more than 58,000 illegal SIM cards were recovered. He added that 183 people involved in illegal activity were arrested, and related cases have been registered.
Justice Bajwa acknowledged the operational challenges facing the cybercrime agency, especially in remote areas and urban palaces where illegal SIMs are openly sold.
However, the court rapidly questioned the PTA’s consultation, observed that the criminals were being issued Sims through government channels.
Justice Bajwa remarked that almost every singleone, including himself, has received extraordinary messages associated with the Benazir Income Support Programs, which reflect the failure of the PTA’s failure to overcome the illegal issuance.
The court also asked if the PTA had taken any action to the mobile companies involved in such irregularities or issued notices for the showcases.
Hearing a sister’s bail plea in the illegal Sims case, the court adjourned further proceedings till next week.