Police given access to mobile phone data

ISLAMABAD: The police, like the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Rangers, have been given access to Call Data Record (CDR) of all the five cellular companies operating in Pakistan. In this regard, a new strategy has been prepared by the government and is being implemented in association with the mobile phone operators to curb different crimes.Mobile phones have attained a central role in the carrying out of heinous crimes like terrorism, abductions for ransom, extortions, target killings and other crimes. A report of the Interior Ministry says during the current year, 41,048 cases of abductions for ransom, assaults on women, target killings, robberies, car and motorcycle lifting and other crimes were recorded. Besides, 5,850 cases of terrorism were also recorded. Mostly mobile phones were used in the cases of terrorism and other crimes. On the orders of Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, the interior and information technology ministries have approved a new line of action to curb the use of illegal SIMs.A new SOP has been issued by the Ministry of Information Technology to the five cellular companies functioning in the country to allowed access to the call data record (CDR) of the cellular companies to police in addition to the FIA and Rangers. The designated police officers of the IG, DIG, CID offices and Special Branch are now allowed access to the data of mobile phones of any person. The cellular companies will also nominate a focal person who will ensure the provision of the data sought by the police and FIA. The government has extended the duration of the required data from three months to one year. The PTA has issued necessary instructions in this regard.Sources say that security issues have been created after the wrong use of mobile phones in committing the ever-increasing number of crimes in the country.