'Illegal SIMs helping terrorists, captors in a big way'

Rise in sale of unauthorised SIMs is instrumental in increasing the incidents of kidnapping for ransom and terrorist activities and this will be brought to an end by dealing the people involved in this business with an iron hand, said Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Interior, here on Wednesday.
"Captors are using unregistered SIMs to contact the relatives of captives and remain safe as no one can access them and on many incidents they took ransom money and did not release the captives," Talha told a press conference. These illegal SIMs have become a main source for miscreants to challenge the writ of the government, he said, adding that they feel safe and secure.
"We have asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to take stern action against the cell phone companies if they fail to bring this business to an end," he said, adding that on instructions of the Senate Standing Committee, PTA and police have launched a massive country-wide crackdown against unauthorised franchises, retailers and distribution points involved in this business.
"People involved in illegal business of mobile SIMs will be detained, their material and equipment will be confiscated and they have to face jail term or fine," he said, adding that many people have been arrested in crackdown and action against them will be taken under Section 36 of Pakistan Telecommunication Act 2006.
Talha said the standing committee will not extend the deadline for verification of unregistered SIMs issued before April 30. "We have asked the PTA to start legal action against the mobile companies if they fail to deactivate the unauthorised SIMs," he said.
PTA will serve mobile companies notice on August 1, for which they are bound to reply within 15 days and then hearing will start and after 30 days they will be fined up to Rs 350 million per company, he said, adding that this fine will damage their image internationally.
Cell phone companies were linked to National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) through optic fiber and they can get a SIM registered in a very short time, Talha Mehmood said adding that people in Nadra and cell-phone companies will be given proper training and equipment.