The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has uncovered a concerning issue involving police officers implicated in the unauthorized leakage and sale of mobile phone SIM data. This issue was formally presented to the Ministry of Interior, with the PTA advocating for a revision of the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent future breaches.
The PTA’s investigation into 21 complaints about data leaks has revealed that police officers from Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh were involved in selling sensitive telecom customer data. The investigation discovered that 72 officers had access to this data, which was being sold for between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 per user. These officers were reportedly earning between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh daily from these illicit activities.
When confronted, the implicated officers claimed their accounts were misused by others. However, PTA sources clarified that the telecom companies had not provided the data, and false cases were filed against company officials instead. Despite the gravity of these allegations, the PTA lacks the authority to take direct action against the officers involved. The PTA has formally requested the Ministry of Interior to update its SOPs, stressing the need for a stronger strategy to prevent such data leaks by security personnel.
