Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 11, 2008 at 3:29 PM
We had anticipated restructuring in Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, at least to some extent, after departure of Mr. Malik from chairmanship. Thing have started happening so.
In a recent development, Brig (R) Mazhar Qayyum Butt, who was a very powerful resource, in fact he was DG Co-ordination in PTA at the times of Maj. Gen (R) Shahzada Alam Malik, has resigned from his position.
Brig (R) Mazhar Qayyum Butt also happened to be the PTA secretary - In the era of Mr. Alam Malik, Mazhar Qayyum was completely looking after the authority, as he was also DG Admin.
It merits mentioning here that after removal of Mr. Malik, Brig (R) Mazhar Qayyum was transferred from most powerful seat of DG Coordination to DG Technical.
We may see resignations of three other retired colonels as well in coming days.
PTA’s spokesman was not available for comment on this.
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Posted by: Muhammad Ali Raza on November 10, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Cyber Crime law, that re-emerged few days back, in shape of presidential order (despite, there is a parliament available, I am unable to comprehend what urgency was there that President had to put forward this ordinance, anyway, its not part of our discussion), we need to fully understand this law. Because, it can be really very crucial for us, as the law have all the capabilities for trapping any one of us.
There are certain discussions going on over the technology forums, where Gurus are pointing out several aspects of cyber crime law, similarly, I wanted to put forward my opinion and observations as well.
The first thing after going through the draft of this ordinance, is that it is largely un-practicable – due to incompetence of our law enforcement agencies, and overall judicial structure. There are good chances, that lawyers never ever carried away any training or courses for getting familiar with internet and computer related criminal procedures.
Government of UAE can be taken as a good example, for instance, they never make anything a law until they can’t implement it. Because, making a law without any implementation or without availing the technology to get the rules implemented, just introducing a law makes no sense at all. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 10, 2008 at 8:19 AM
Believe me, Pakistan’s Government is lot better than of many other states. At least we have got the liberty of using many mediums for our communications, unlike Iran, that has banned SMS service on all cell phones, throughout the country.
(NCR Iran) National Council of Resistance of Iran has reported that Organization of Communications Regulations has putout new laws imposing restrictions on sending SMS. For a typical cell owner, he has to go through security checks by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) to receive clearance for using the service – otherwise, no one will be able to send/receive SMS.
I purposefully praised Pakistan’s government, so govt chaps are not convinced to follow Iran here - as govt is fully geared this days, and we can expect them doing anything.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 19, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Here comes yet another tax for cellular users, this time we don’t need to worry about, as this tax is not for telecom services, instead the usage of telecom service will be taken as a measuring tool for someone’s income and those will be taxed whose monthly bill exceeds Rs. 100,000 per year or Rs. 8,333 per month. This decision was taken by Federal Board of Revenue to bring mobile phone users into the tax-net under the new plan to broaden the tax-base in 2008-2009.
Business Recorder has confirmed that FBR had issued instructions to the Director General of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to obtain record of mobile phone users whose annual bills exceed Rs 100,000 and bring them under the tax net.
Along with cellular users, FBR has plans to include frequent air travelers, luxury car holders, large industries and others segments too.
FBR’s this move is not going to harm general users, instead the plan is to attack those elite segment who have not disclosed their assets or income, and are not paying taxes while they are excessively using resources in the country.
In case a person is paying more than Rs. 8,333 per month for his cell phone, then he must be having some revenues to pay tax. In case his company is paying for his phone bills, then his employer has to justify this and has to show the mobile phone expenses.
FBR can issue letters to the cellular phone users with over Rs 100,000 to demand National Tax Numbers (NTNs) or ask the non-filers of income tax returns to file return, if required. On the basis of NTN, the department could check/verify the income of mobile phone user for subsequent filing of return.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 5, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Interior Ministry Chief Mr. Rehman Malik has instructed cyber wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to trace out the originators of fictitious e-mails and SMS, sent to the people, which involved political figures of the country, especially the ruling ones.
Associated Press of Pakistan has reported that Mr. Malik is of the view that these emails and text messaged are forwarded by thousands if not millions, primarily aim at launching vilification campaign for the character assassination of the politicians and senior leaders.
The directive given by the Interior Advisor to the investigation agency will help initiate immediate action against the culprits, indulged in the smear campaign against the political leadership of the country.
These forwarded Emails / SMS messages normally contain jokes, cartoons and other elements of hilarious nature.
President Asif Ali Zardari is lately center of attraction for such activities, particularly in a recent activity someone faked his signature and reproduced president’s message that had spelling mistakes in it.
President Zardari was once again targeted in Emails after his meeting with Sarah Plain.
Consequently, there came a warning to all fun-loving Pakistanis: the cyber crime wing of the FIA has been instructed to hunt down those circulating jokes on him through emails or mobile phones.
But at same, we are not sure if FIA is capable enough to track text messages or emails. With no system available to cap and/or monitor the messages, which are forwarded and then re-forwarded to multiple mobile users, makes it almost impossible to reach the actual originator of that text message.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 5, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Interior Ministry has taken notice of increasing mobile snatching cases in country, especially in Karachi. Consequently, Interior Ministry Chief, Mr. Rehman Malik has directed police to shoot mobile snatchers at spot.
Daily Jang, citing interior ministry sources has reported that interior minister showed serious concerns over the issue while communicating with Inspector General Police Sindh. Mr. Malik passed orders to deploy special officials in all major markets and roads of Karachi with orders to shoot mobile phone snatchers without arresting them.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 18, 2008 at 7:38 AM
There was a news in print media yesterday, that Police has been allowed to directly access cellular user’s information; this includes our incoming and outgoing call details and information regarding SMS that we send and receive. I am not sure if Police can also access the content of calls (voice tapes), as it was not explicitly mentioned in any of news report.
If we consider crime rate, then this decision is going to help Police Department in ultimately reaching the culprits in quick time and with better accuracy, hence better results. Use of cell phone is a must do thing that criminals follow, meaning that they leave a very sound proof behind for police to catch them in minimum time.
But on other hands, as we know more and more government departments are now allowed to access cellular data directly, our very personal information is at risk. I don’t want to point out any single department, but I tend to decide or feel that my cellular record could be more secure and in safe hands if it was allowed to access through one point or one department.
I do not fear that these government institutes will access my information; instead my main concern is that now more individuals from our society (who have close references –friends/family - in these government departments) may also access my private data very easily.
I want to conclude here that there should be very strict and breach-less system to ensure that our cell phone records are safe and inaccessible to any un-authorized personal. Also want to add that its universal law that there should be lesser number of direct accesses to anything to make it more secure.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 12, 2008 at 10:14 AM
In current telecom scenario of Pakistan, innocent subscribers are feeling tremendous pressure and harassment with growing fraudulent activities using cellular communication. It is of common practice that an SMS message that contains information about lucky draw award is received by innocent subscribers who unconsciously reply to such message and losses his balance in return. Besides that some obnoxious calls from a deceiver invites subscriber to come to particular location for award of prize money which ends up in loss of hard earned money of those innocent subscribers.
In the past Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has taken several measures to cap Spam, Unsolicited and Obnoxious Calls and text messages. Until now authority had tried to aware telecom subscribers to report such activities to PTA’s complain resolution number or helpline of respective cellular companies, in order to take action against such callers/spammers.
Lately, PTA has been trying to block unwanted calls on cellular phones in a more organized manner. For the purpose authority gave a tender advertisement in papers, asking solution providers for installation of SPAM filtering devices.
PTA website has revealed about a meeting that was attended by PTA officials and representatives of cellular service providers, in order to identify the critical issues relating to spam, unsolicited and obnoxious calls. In the meeting unsolved spamming problems were discussed that are increasing due to mobile generated fraudulent activities.
Currently Mobilink is offering a service that allows its subscribers to filter SMS (Text Messages), while Ufone is also offering Ufone call block service.
PTA thinks that this is not enough, and there should be an industry standard in order to block such unwanted calls and text messages. For the purpose, PTA also held a meeting with Tekelec (that provided SMS filtering services to Mobilink) to discuss possible solutions for the problem.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, after a deep look into the matter may direct all cellular companies to install such equipment that will filter all unwanted calls for cellular users.
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