May 30, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

KARACHI, May 29: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has served notice on customs authorities for illegally installing frequency jammers at Customs House, Karachi, as it had been causing interference to telecom users.

The notice has been served under section 31 of Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, wherein it empowers the PTA to regulate telecom sector in the country. Under the act the authority has been given the responsibilities to ensure that rights of licensees and telecom users are duly protected.

The PTA has pointed out to customs authorities that three frequency jammers installed in customers’ dealing centre at Customs House are causing interference to all GSM (mobile phones) and WLL (wireless phones) systems. As such, it is adversely affecting the rights of not only licensed operators but also users of telecom services.

The PTA further stated that as per the Act and the current government policy it is illegal to install jammers of any type. Therefore, under the Pakistan Telecommunication Act 1996 prevention or obstruction of telecom systems or services is an offence.

The authority has asked the customs authorities to immediately remove or switch off permanently the frequency jammers installed in the Customs House. It has further demanded that details of the vendor who supplied the equipment should also be furnished so that legal action may also be initiated against him for his involvement in this illegal business.