ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Friday said that mobile phones were now a weapon of terrorism as all improvised bombings were conducted through them.

Speaking in the Senate and later outside the Parliament House, he said elections will not be delayed and will be held on time as per the constitutional provisions.

The minister said that mobile phone services were suspended in different cities on Chehlum of Imam Hussain after taking all the provinces into confidence.

“Mobile phones are now a weapon of terrorism as all improvised bombings were conducted through them.” He said that suspension of mobile phone services helped avoiding blasts.

The minister suggested that legislation should be done to ban illegal mobile phone SIMs sell as it has become a weapon of committing terror, adding the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been written a letter in this regard.

He said around 90 per cent Afghan refugees are living in Katchi Abadis (slums) and despite repeated warnings, they have not yet left the country. “Anyone who violates the law would be apprehended. Most of the handlers of suicide bombings were found in Katchi Abadis,” he said.

Responding to a question he said Dr Tahirul Qadri is free to present his point of view, however, the government will not allow him playing with the lives of the people.