National

Islamabad: Serious questions have been raised over Pak Datacom’s reported shift of satellite connectivity for sensitive government linked organisations from Pakistan’s PakSat network to UAE based Yahsat, with a former chief executive of the company has asked regulators to investigate whether required approvals were obtained and whether national data security safeguards were fully protected. Pak Datacom officials were contacted for their response to the allegations and questions raised in the complaint, but no reply had been received at the time of filing this story. The concerns were raised by retired Brigadier Syed Zulfiqar Ali, who described himself in the complaint as a former chief executive and shareholder of Pak Datacom. He sent a formal complaint to authorities including the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the Director General Technical and PakSat International, with a copy also sent to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. The complaint alleges that Pak Datacom moved VSAT services being provided to the National Bank of Pakistan and other government organisations from its local satellite arrangement to Yahsat’s YahClick service. According to the complaint, the earlier system used PakSat with network hubs located in Pakistan, while the new arrangement involves a UAE based satellite service. The complainant described the change as a possible security concern because the National Bank of Pakistan handles important government accounts. The main issue raised is whether the satellite change followed Pakistan’s regulatory requirements and if the necessary approvals were obtained. Pakistan’s Space Activities Rules state that government departments, armed forces and other government entities should use national satellite capacity and give the National Space Agency the first right of refusal. The same rules also provide an exception. If the required capacity is not available through a national satellite, services from a registered satellite operator may be used, subject to the regulatory process and an NOC from PSARB. The key unanswered questions are whether national satellite capacity was unavailable, whether Yahsat was being used as a registered satellite service under the relevant rules and whether the required approvals or NOC were obtained. The complaint asks the authorities to determine exactly these points. The complainant alleged that the move contradicted the Space Activities Rules and asked regulators to establish whether the formal procedure had been followed. The rules give PSARB powers to regulate satellite activities and ensure maximum use of national space assets. They also empower the regulator to issue an NOC to government organisations for using other registered satellites when national satellites cannot provide or arrange the required capacity. Pak Datacom is a listed company and, according to the documents supplied with the complaint, Telecom Foundation holds 55 percent of its shares while the remaining 45 percent is held by the general public. The complaint states that Pak Datacom has worked with defence and public sector organisations and has provided satellite communication and network support to organisations including the National Bank of Pakistan, NADRA, OGDCL, AGPR and NLC. According to the documents, Pak Datacom had been providing satellite backup connectivity to more than 400 National Bank branches. The complaint says this connectivity previously operated through PakSat, using hubs in Karachi and Islamabad before services shifted to Yahsat. The complainant argued that keeping government connectivity on an indigenous network would provide greater control, particularly for organisations handling sensitive information. Pak Datacom’s reported use of a virtual private network was also mentioned in the material. The complaint nevertheless argued that using a foreign satellite and overseas infrastructure required closer examination from a national security point of view. These concerns remain allegations that relevant regulators and the company must verify. Another issue raised in correspondence sent to the Ministry of Information Technology concerned the cost of the reported transition. The complainant alleged that approximately $97,000 was spent on imported equipment. He also alleged that around Rs 10 million was paid in Customs duties and taxes and around Rs 4 million in demurrage charges. The complaint linked the demurrage amount to alleged delay or negligence. The complainant requested an inquiry to determine whether the satellite shift was carried out according to the regulatory framework and whether the reported spending was justified. The Space Activities Rules give PSARB authority to investigate possible violations. Under the rules, PSARB may form a special committee to conduct a fact-finding inquiry if an act or omission may have violated the regulatory framework. The rules also state that satellite-based communication services in Pakistan must be provided through national satellites or registered satellites. Foreign satellite operators are also required to meet regulatory conditions for providing services in Pakistan. The documents therefore leave an important regulatory question open. If all required permissions, registration and NOCs were obtained and national satellite capacity was unavailable, the foreign satellite arrangement may fall within the exception provided by the rules. If those conditions were not met, regulators would need to determine whether any breach occurred and what action, if any, is required. The reporter contacted Pak Datacom Acting CEO Ali Saleem Rana and other company officials seeking clarification on why VSAT connectivity was reportedly shifted from PakSat to Yahsat. Questions were also sent asking whether the company had obtained the required approvals, how it responded to the security concerns and whether the reported expenditure figures were correct. No response had been received at the time the story was prepared. Pak Datacom’s position will be incorporated if the company responds. The matter now centres on whether the responsible regulatory authorities confirm that the required procedures were followed and whether the foreign satellite arrangement met Pakistan’s security and space regulation requirements. The central questions are whether the system was properly authorised, whether national capacity was considered first, whether government data remained protected and whether public and shareholder money was spent according to the rules.

Islamabad: A man accused of preparing fake National Assembly identity cards and a false appointment letter showing himself as an Assistant Director has been arrested. His mobile phone and laptop were seized for forensic examination, a parliamentary committee was informed. The fake appointment document, falsely carrying the name of the National Assembly Secretariat, had been circulated on social media. The Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges expressed serious concern over the case and directed the Federal Investigation Agency to continue its investigation and submit a detailed report at the committee’s next meeting. The committee was chaired by MNA Muhammad Afzal at Parliament House. According to the briefing by the Additional Director General of the FIA, the accused, Abdul Wajid, had been arrested and produced before a court. The FIA told the committee that investigators had obtained his physical remand to continue questioning him. According to the FIA briefing, Abdul Wajid admitted during interrogation that he had prepared fake National Assembly identity cards bearing his own name. The agency further informed the committee that he had also prepared a fake appointment letter showing himself as an Assistant Director of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The committee was told that the fake appointment or offer letter had also appeared on different social media platforms, falsely presented as a document issued by the National Assembly Secretariat. Investigators took the accused’s mobile phone and laptop into custody through a formal seizure process. Investigators seized the accused’s mobile phone and laptop through a formal process. The devices will now undergo forensic analysis as investigators try to determine how the fake documents were prepared and circulated. After discussing the matter, the committee ordered the FIA to investigate the case further and provide a complete report. The committee also took notice of the absence of Jawad ul Hassan, Metropolitan Officer Regulation of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore. Members expressed concern over his failure to attend the meeting and directed that he be summoned to appear before the committee at its next sitting. Another privilege matter involving the former Director General of the Solid Waste Management Board Imtiaz Ali Shah was also discussed. The question of privilege had been raised by MNA Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan. The committee was informed that the former Director General had not obtained written permission from the committee for his absence. The committee therefore decided to summon him at its next meeting. Members also reviewed several proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly. Amendments proposed by MNA Dr Nafisa Shah to rules 295, 296, 30, 31 and 205 were examined after the committee received views from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice. After discussion, the committee recommended that the proposed changes to rules 295, 296 and 205 should not be approved. However, the committee recommended approving the proposed amendments to rules 30 and 31. The committee also considered amendments proposed by MNA Aliya Kamran to rule 44. After receiving views from the concerned ministries and discussing the proposal, the committee recommended that the amendment to rule 44 should not be approved. Members separately reviewed amendments relating to rules 118 and 119 as well as a proposal to remove rule 234A. The committee recommended that the amendment to rule 118 should be approved with changes. It also recommended removing rule 234A as proposed. A final decision on the proposed amendment to rule 119 was delayed until the committee’s next meeting. Questions of privilege moved by MNA Makhdoom Syed Sami ul Hassan Gillani were also postponed because the mover was unavailable. The committee also adopted a report prepared by a sub committee led by MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra. The fake appointment letter case remained one of the most serious matters before the committee. Lawmakers are now waiting for the FIA forensic examination and detailed investigation report to establish the full circumstances behind the preparation and circulation of the false National Assembly documents.

GUJRANWALA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Gujranwala Zone has arrested 17 alleged human traffickers and agents involved in defrauding citizens on the pretext of providing overseas employment. The arrests were made during a crackdown against human trafficking and immigration fraud in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot circles. Some of the arrested suspects were also proclaimed offenders (POs), according to the FIA. Officials said the suspects allegedly collected millions of rupees from citizens after promising to send them to Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Poland, Iraq, Cambodia, Dubai and other countries for employment. The arrested suspects were identified as Mustansar Hussain, Asif Shabbir, Farooq, Muhammad Waseem, Javed Iqbal, Qaiser Shehzad, Zafar Ali, Zakaullah, Muhammad Sufyan, Yasin Ali, Muhammad Sharif, Manzoor Ahmed, Safdar Hussain, Sufyan Elahi, Muhammad Jameel, Athar Hani alias Aswad and Nadeem Mahmood. The Gujranwala circle made the highest number of arrests, with 10 suspects taken into custody, followed by Gujrat with five and Sialkot with two. In one of the Gujranwala circle operations, two suspects were arrested in the same case. In a major case, the FIA arrested Muhammad Jameel for allegedly receiving Rs8 million from two people on the promise of sending them to Italy. Another suspect, Nadeem Mahmood, allegedly took Rs2.5 million from a citizen for sending him to Italy. According to investigators, the victim in the latter case was instead sent to Libya, where he was allegedly kept in a safe house and subjected to torture. The suspects allegedly demanded further money for his release. The Gujrat circle arrested Javed Iqbal and Qaiser Shehzad for allegedly receiving Rs3.5 million from citizens on the promise of sending them to Spain. In Sialkot, the FIA arrested Yasin Ali alias Amir and Muhammad Sharif in separate human trafficking cases. Yasin Ali allegedly received Rs251,000 and 2,000 dirhams from a citizen after promising him employment in Dubai, while Muhammad Sharif allegedly took Rs1 million for sending another citizen to Poland. The FIA said the suspects had collectively received at least Rs23.495 million from citizens in different cases on false promises of overseas employment. Cases have been registered against the suspects under relevant provisions of law and further investigation is underway. FIA officials said the crackdown would continue against other elements involved in human trafficking, immigration fraud and exploitation of citizens seeking employment abroad. The agency also urged citizens to remain cautious while dealing with overseas employment agents and verify their credentials before handing over money or documents for foreign employment.