PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday disposed of a petition about several issues related to cellphone companies, including the use of unauthorised and illegal SIMs, observing the government has already taken action and blocked illegal SIMs in large number.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Daud Khan turned down a request of petitioner Atif Haleem to probe the alleged tax evasion by cellular phone companies and asked him to approach the relevant authorities.

The bench observed that several prayers made by the petitioner including use of illegal and unauthorised SIMs and roaming facility to Afghan phone companies had already been addressed by the government.

In the writ petition filed by a citizen Atif Haleem several issues related to the functioning of Pakistan telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular phone companies were raised including alleged tax evasion by cellular phone companies; use of unauthorised and illegal SIMs in crimes including acts of terrorism; roaming facilities given to Afghan phone companies, etc.

Asks petitioner to move relevant forum for probe into alleged tax evasion

When the bench took up for hearing the case, the chief justice observed that the government had taken steps for blocking unauthorised SIMs and in this regard the cellular phone companies had started thumb verification of subscribers. In lighter vein the chief justice pointed out that despite verification one of his SIMs was also blocked.

The bench observed that following the action taken by the government a major grievance of the petitioner had been addressed and his petition had served its purpose.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Asghar Khan Kundi, argued that he had also raised several other points in the petition most important of which was tax evasion by the cellular phone companies. He said the companies had been paying almost zero tax which had been earning a lot and that it was a huge loss to exchequer.

Kundi said in its comments the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had admitted that fact and had even mentioned that the PTA was a dead horse playing in the hands of the phone companies.

The bench observed that if the petitioner had any grievance he should move the concern forum including the Federal Board of Revenue.

Arshad Ali, lawyer for PTA, and Atif Ali Khan, counsel for PTA, contended the roaming facility to Afghan companies had been ended and phone companies had also blocked SIMs in large number which could not be verified. They added that the companies had been paying taxes in accordance with law.

The bench observed that if the petitioner had any grievance regarding payment of taxes of the phone companies he could approach the relevant department or authority.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2015

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