Background Facts:

The Competition Commission of Pakistan received an order of honorable Islamabad High Court, dated 21.08.14 in Writ Petition Number 3771 of 2014, titled Tariq Bilal vs. Federation of Pakistan etc., wherein the Commission has been directed to treat the petition as a representation, and to pass an order in accordance with law.

The Petitioner raised various claims against PTA and PTCL including i) disconnection of telephone numbers and unilateral changing of telephone number pre-fixed, both land line and cellular; ii) charging the calling party for VMS messages left on petitioners numbers; iii) changing of telephone packages by PTCL without prior informing; iv) the limitation on the number of SIMs that may be issued to one individual; and v) the disconnection of the Petitioners WLL subscription and the insufficient notice in relation thereto.

Order:

Based on the Petitioners concerns, along with responses received from PTA and PTCL, the Commission was of the view that no competition concerns are raised. It is to be appreciated that the issues raised by the Petitioner fall within the regulatory jurisdiction of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, which may proceed with the case according to its mandate and as per applicable laws and regulations, or are of a technical nature and to be rectified by PTCL. The Commission is bound by its mandate, and will not interfere in situations where no competition concerns are raised.