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NADRA verification should be required for purchasing SIMs: SC
KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has called for mandatory verification from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for purchasing mobile SIMs.
During proceedings of the Karachi law and order case at the Karachi registry, the Supreme Court directed that laws be formulated which limit the sale of SIMs to five on each national identity card. The PTA chairman informed the apex court that there were 125 million active SIMs in the country. The Supreme Court ordered cellular companies to provide a temporary solution by Friday which prevents criminals from using illegal SIMs.
Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that the sale of SIMs from unlicensed outlets should be stopped and service providers were conducting business by issuing unverified SIMs. Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that in several areas of the country including Lahore, active SIMs could be purchased for Rs50.
Additional IG Sindh, Shahid Hayat presented the Chinese made machine which was being used to activate SIMs before the Supreme Court. He informed the court that this machine was being used to activate SIMs which had been deactivated. Hayat added that during the targeted operation, 3,000 active SIMs had been recovered. According to the Additional IG, the SIMS were issued on data obtained from voter lists and would then be used in criminal activity. Hayat told the court that if this issue was resolved, 50 percent of kidnapping for ransom cases could be solved.
Courtesy www.geo.tv