The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stepped in to temporarily prevent the government from blocking the mobile phone SIM cards of individuals who haven’t filed their taxes. The court issued a stay order, valid until May 27, in response to a petition filed by a mobile phone company challenging the government’s initiative.
Islamabad High Court Blocks SIM Blockade
This development comes after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collaborated with telecom operators on a plan to block non-filers’ SIMs. This initiative aimed to address tax evasion and boost revenue generation during challenging economic times.
The FBR initially announced that telecom companies would begin manually blocking SIMs in small batches until their systems could automate the process. They also communicated the first batch of 5,000 non-filers to the operators, with plans for daily updates. Additionally, telecom companies started informing non-filers about the potential SIM blockage.
However, the mobile phone company’s petition to the IHC halted this process.
Challenging the Blockade on Constitutional Grounds
During the court hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, argued that the government’s decision contradicts Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to conduct business freely. He emphasized that no legislation can supersede fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Raja further contended that the government cannot gain the authority to block citizens’ SIMs through legal amendments. He also highlighted the potential economic impact, stating that blocking over 500,000 SIMs annually could cost mobile phone companies roughly Rs 1 billion.
The IHC’s decision to issue a stay order signifies a significant development in this ongoing legal battle. We will need to wait until May 27 to see how the court rules on the matter.
