Pakistanis angry over mobile companies using fake IDs to issue SIM cards

Islamabad, Oct 19 (ANI): Pakistani cell phone users have expressed resentment against telephone companies for issuing SIM cards to people who produced fake documents to get new connections.

A host of people said that cellular companies were issuing a number of SIM cards under their ID card numbers to other people without informing them.

Cellular companies are just out to make money and issuing SIMs without verifying the identity of a person, who produces fake documents for getting connection, the Daily Times quoted them, as saying.

Safdar Abbas, who hails from Dera Ismail Khan, said he had just come to know that there were up to eight SIMs being operated under his identity card and he didn't have any idea about this.

"I am struggling to get these SIMs blocked, but the cellular companies are difficult to approach and they don't pay heed," he complained.

Issuing mobile SIMs without proper verifications is sheer violation of the laws of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), however, cellular companies seem least bothered to abide by set rules and regulations.

A number of 'Authorised Dealers' are up in the markets to entice the people to get mobile connections with no check at all.

"I once lost a copy of my ID card at photocopier shop that also happened to be an 'Authorised Dealer' of a cellular company and later I learnt that so many connections had been issued under my name," Salim Javed, another victim said.

People have appealed the PTA to intervene to save people from this situation that could confront them with very serious consequences.

They have also requested the authority to direct cellular companies to initiate verification of all such SIMs whose owners refuse to own them. (ANI)