The Government of General Pervez Musharraf is very actively and appreciably extending its hand in tackling the international terrorism. The efforts and practical contributions made by Pakistan in this field have internationally been recognised but is the Government really aware of or really concerned about security concern within Pakistan?
About a month or so back there was a news item Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao telling authorities have arrested 8 criminals through the source of their mobile phones. All these accused must be innocent but only for the sin of holding a stolen mobile bought at cheaper rates.
A few months back my husband came from abroad. For his temporary stay he wanted to buy a Pakistani mobile chip/SIM. Shopping from a small general stores he enquired from the shopkeeper if there was any mobile company sales office nearby.
The shopkeeper told all companies' SIMs were available in his own shop. My husband bought one, used it for a month and on the day of his return he removed this SIM and replaced his foreign country SIM. Being a cautious man having served abroad for more than 20 years in uniform he knew the sensitivity of keeping an idle SIM.
He wanted to destroy it by breaking but during his last minute shopping outside, this SIM got dropped somewhere. However he left Pakistan and immediately from abroad he, in writing, requested CPLC, PTA, our area police and the telecommunication company to block the SIM.
Much propagated CPLC, not realising the importance of immediate blocking, after about two weeks informed my husband that he can contact the company concerned directly. CPLC perhaps does not know that CPLC was formed due to the reason the police and such companies were not listening to such direct complaints by people.
If people are required to go directly to the companies in case of loss or theft of mobiles, then why there is an On Line costly mobile theft reporting system? PTA as usual merely acknowledged receipt while police never did. The telecommunication company first advised my husband to attend to the nearest customer service center for lodging a report.
My husband told them to read his complaint with the presence of mind that he was abroad. Now the company has shocked my husband telling him that the SIM/Chip number was not registered in his name hence cannot be blocked.
The company has advised my husband to provide a copy of service agreement, which he had signed while purchasing the SIM. Such an agreement was never presented to my husband and in fact it is our first knowledge as these Chips and SIMs are sold in shops merely on the strength of copies of National Identity Card.