ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP): Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducted successful raids in multiple locations against illegal issuance of SIM cards and arrested five accused.
In Mingora, Swat, a successful raid was conducted by PTA Zonal Office Peshawar in collaboration with FIA Cyber Crime Circle Peshawar against a mobile company franchisee suspected of illegally issuing SIM cards, said a PTA news release on Friday.
The suspects in the guise of BISP disbursements, used to take biometric information (finger/thumb impressions) of subscribers for issuance of.
Similarly, in Lahore, PTA Zonal Office and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s Cyber Crime Circle Gujranwala conducted raids against three franchisees of a mobile company suspected of illegally issuing SIM cards in Gujranwala, Pasroor, and Narowal.
During the raids, BVS devices issued by mobile company and a bank for BISP disbursements, and active SIM cards were confiscated.
Five suspects were arrested. FIA has started further investigations.
PTA had previously filed complaints with FIA based on suspicious issuance of SIMs at sale channels.
The raids in both locations demonstrate PTA’s resolve to stop the illegal issuance of SIMs and prevent the circumvention of the Multi-finger Biometric Verification System (MBVS).
