Pakistani President for policy to stop sim cards to militants

Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, Thursday took serious note of the use of mobile phones by the militants and criminals and asked the government to work out a plan so that no sim cards are delivered at the retail shops and the outlets of mobile companies. The President while presiding over a meeting in the port city of Karachi about the law and order situation also issued instructions that the mobile sims are posted to the addresses of the applicant as mentioned in the Computerized National Identity Card, presidential spokesman said. The President directed the Interior Minister to frame draft policy in this regard for the Cabinet's approval, spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said after the meeting. The Interior Ministry says that militants and criminal gangs routinely use fake mobile sim cards for contacts to carry out attacks and commit crimes. The government had temporarily blocked mobile phone service in 13 major cities on the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid at the weekend over threats of attacks. Officials say that millions of fake sim cards are still being used by the people and the militants who take advantage of the weak system to get sim cards from unauthorized outlets across the country.