LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday suspended the amended policy for incoming international calls on a petition filed by a Long Distance International (LDI) operator.
The single bench comprising Justice Shahzada Mazhar passed the interim orders on a petition by a LDI operator-4 G International. The court also sought reply from Ministry of Information Technology by December 10.
Earlier, the petitioner's counsel Sheikh Muhammad Ali arguing before the court submitted that till 2012, 13 LDI operators were working in the country and they were authorised to deal international incoming calls by the government.
However, the ministry changed the policy in 2012 and it was decided that all international incoming calls would be handled through a single gateway instead of individual gateways of LDI operators under International Clearing House (ICH) Agreement, he added.
He submitted that all LDI operators including petitioner transferred their services along their consumers to Pakistan Telecommunication Company after approval of the notified rates for operators by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
But, the PTA wrote a letter to the ministry on June 16, 2014 for withdrawal of ICH and consequently on June 17, the ministry withdraw the 2012 policy directive and LDI operators were asked to restore their individual exchange within one month, he added.
The counsel termed the step a security risk and added that it would increase grey tracking in the country. He contended that the step was illegal as it was taken without consultation of stake holders. He pleaded the court to set aside the amended policy.
The court after recording initial arguments suspended the amended policy and sought reply from respondent ministry by December 10.
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