Minister for Interior, Senator Rehman Malik, has directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to help Karachi Police in detection of terrorists and overcome the illegal use of mobile phones in the country. Chairing a meeting at National Crisis Management Cell on Wednesday, he said misuse of mobile phones and SIMs by terrorists had to be urgently stopped.
The meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Waseem Ahmed, DG Rangers Sindh Brigadier Zafar Ahmad, DG FIA, Tehseen Shah, PTA Chairman, Dr Mohamamd Yasin, IG Sindh Wajid Durrani, Additional IG Karachi Saud Mirza, Additional IG Special Branch, Rasood Bux Sandh, Director FIA, Mozzam Jah Ansari, Additional Director FIA, Azad Khan, DO FC Iqbal Dara and others.
The issue of misuse of mobile phones/SIMs by the terrorists in Karachi was extensively discussed with special reference to stolen mobile phones and multiple mobile phones with same IMEI numbers. PTA Chairman informed the meeting that PTA had blocked 3.64 million SIMs that failed to approach 668 after repeated reminders. He said that under the directives of Interior Minister a new system called phase-3 of SIM, "SIM Information - 668" ie "Proper ID Verification" had been introduced to block the misuse of unauthorised SIMs.
He said the process for blocking remaining illegal SIMs was underway and so far 20.735 million SIMs had been blocked by PTA due to non-compliance of government directives. PTA Chairman Dr Mohammad Yasin said that a system 789 was also being strengthened for automating pre-cell documentation of new mobile connection under the instruction of Interior Minister.