ISLAMABAD: Seizure of an internationally renowned militants’ group, Al Qaeda, communication center in Lahore has left a question mark over flaws in security measures made by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and mobile service providers across the country.
Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies caught an International Technical Hub or International Communication Centre of extremist outfit Al-Qaeda in suburb area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Eastern province of Punjab.
The captured equipment including mobile SIMs, computers, etc were used as communication assistance for targeting high ups from different parts of the country.
However, Pakistani authorities and intelligence agencies foiled an abduction incident going to be happened as they said, “The culprits have been planning to kidnap son of a key political figure,” the sources further said.
The authorities claimed that the same group was involved in US citizen Warren Weinstein and abduction by at least eight armed men from his home in the Eastern Pakistani City of Lahore.
It is pertinent to note, Pakistan telecommunication companies are restricted to issue mobile SIMs only after obtaining consumers’ complete date.
Mobile providers have been allowed to use National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA)’s computerized data to verify data of SIM’s applicant.
Besides the law, authorities recovered a large quantity of SIMs from the arrested militants during the raid conducted after being informed by intelligence agencies earlier.
The recent move raised several questions over security system designed by the country’s security officials that whether it should be revised or if it is designed foolproof then the mobile services providers are currently implementing the policies or not.
It also showed influences and links of militants’ members into Pakistan’s highly sensitive departments especially communication sectors which comprised of mobile services providers and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
According to the reports of Pakistan’s media, the hub was set up in Bagria’an area of Green Town, situated in it outskirt of the city while the alleged two terrorists linked with the group being involved in the kidnapping of son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Salman Taseer’s son Shahbaz Taseer.
The terrorists were running the centre using sophisticated digital devices and was serving communication needs of the extremists.
Security policies of Pakistan Telecommunication Limited Company and other private mobile phone operators of the country including Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL), Ufone, Mobilink, Zong, Warid and Telenor become questionable after the incident.
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