Mobile SIMs Issued On Invalid CNICs Not Blocked Despite Orders Of Federal Minister

Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi visited the NADRA headquarters last week. He reportedly visited various departments and instructed the authorities to set up offices across Pakistan on the pattern of model police stations established in Punjab. In addition to that, he also directed the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to block mobile SIMs issued on invalid and expired identity cards. Despite the orders of the Federal Minister, the mobile SIMs issued on the expired identity cards could not be blocked.

PTA Is Unaware Of Number Of SIMs Issued Against CNICs

Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, during his visit to NADRA headquarters on April 18, ordered that all SIMs running on expired and ineffective identity cards should be blocked, to which the spokesperson of The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was contacted.

According to the PTA spokesman, the authority has no information regarding the number of SIMs issued against expired identity cards. Even though PTA claims to be unaware of any orders received from the Ministry of Interior regarding the closure of SIMs running on expired identity cards. Only NADRA has the details regarding the number of SIMs running on expired or invalid identity cards. As per PTA, if orders were received in this regard, it would have been implemented in accordance with the law in consultation with all the stakeholders. Almost ten days have passed but no SIMs have been blocked. Moreover, the Ministry of Home Affairs has not written an official letter to the PTA on the matter yet.

In a recent development, Islamabad High Court Justice Babar Sattar dismissed pleas from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in the Bushra Bibi audio leaks case. The court also imposed fines of Rs 500,000 on each of the institutions. Moreover, the Justice also hinted at starting contempt of court proceedings against the FIA.