Islamabad: IHC today, barred mobile network companies from blocking SIMs of non-filers.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) ordered telecom companies to ban SIMs of 500,000 non-filers as a penalty last week. FIA directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) under the 2001 telecommunication ordinance.
Negotiations between PTA, and FIA, went back and forth, for a week, until Friday. The telecommunication companies agreed.

Telecommunication companies primarily faced problems with massive blocking and had registered to manual blocking until such apparatus was ready.
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Zong, a telecom network, took the case to the Islamabad High Court. Represented by Salman Akram Raja, Zong was able to suspend the FIA’s decision. Salman Akram Raja presented the case in front of Justice Aamir Farooq.
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Salman Akram Raja referred to Article 18 of the Constitution of Pakistan – freedom to enterprise. Further, Salman pointed out that the net loss to the telecom industry will amount to Rs.1.1 billion.
After hearing the case, Justice Aamir Farooq has ordered other telecom firms to present their case by May 27TH.
