Chief Justice clarifies order on blocking SIMs of non-filers

Recently, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court provided a clarification regarding the order related to blocking SIMs of non-filers. The order does not prevent authorities from blocking SIMs of non-filers but prohibits the government from taking action against telecom operators. This clarification followed reports of a stay order issued by the IHC on a petition filed by a mobile operator challenging the Federal Board of Revenue's decision to block SIMs of non-filers.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and telecom operators had joined forces to block SIMs of non-filers as a measure to combat tax evasion and increase revenue. The FBR announced that telecom companies would manually block SIMs in small batches until their systems were fully capable of automating the process. Initially, the focus was on blocking SIMs of 5,000 non-filers, with plans to extend this initiative in the future.

During a hearing, the attorney general requested the dismissal of the stay order on SIM blockage. However, the chief justice clarified that the order did not stop SIM blockage but only prevented action against private companies. Concerns were raised about including laborers and low-income individuals in the tax net, with assurances that only non-filers would start receiving notices from November 2023.

The attorney general reassured individuals who had paid their taxes that the FBR would restore their SIMs after verification. The IHC has issued a notice on the government's petition, with a response expected by May 22.

The clarification by the Islamabad High Court sheds light on the ongoing efforts to block SIMs of non-filers as part of the government's strategy to tackle tax evasion. With a focus on ensuring fairness and compliance, the authorities aim to streamline the process while addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders.