Method being devised to control cell phone usage for terrorist activities: Rehman

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has vowed to devise a mechanism in order to ensure that mobile phones are not used as tools for terrorist activities.
The government has no intention of blocking all unregistered Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) immediately, as it would cause inconvenience to users and negatively impact revenue.
A meeting of all stakeholders would be convened to firm up a strategy on how to deal with the matter of SIMs issued against fake identity cards, he told Radio Pakistan.
The Minister proposed that SIMs should be verified against the thumb impression of the applicants through National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
He said that the issue of SIMs would be resolved keeping foreign investment and interests of cellular operators in mind.
He said that there would have been many acts of terrorism if cellular services had not been suspended in four cities on the eve of Eid and added that the government had definite information about a conspiracy hatched to destabilize the country and these plans had been foiled through effective coordination among intelligence and law enforcing agencies.
On the decision to form an Interfaith Council, he said that it would have seven members representing different schools of thought and its chairmanship would be rotated among them on a quarterly basis. He said that this would be a model initiative and on its success it would be replicated in the provinces. A Conference on Interfaith Harmony would be held on August 30 to promote tolerance and ensure sectarian harmony and protect rights of minorities.
Regarding the situation in Balochistan, the Minister said that it had improved following his detailed briefing to the Senate and exposing activities of a neighboring country.
Rehman once again extended an offer to estranged Baloch leaders to return to the country and talk to personalities of their choice. “They should leave their cozy abodes abroad and return to Balochistan if they are genuinely interested in serving the people,” he added.
When asked to comment on the reported statement by Taliban’s spokesman that they would retaliate if an operation was launched in North Waziristan, he said that they do so at the behest of someone else, it would not be possible for them to carry out attacks on this side of the border, martyr our people and take back their own injured without active foreign support.