Nayatel Files a Court Petition Against Alleged Discrimination by PTA

A leading internet service provider has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) alleging that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) treated it unfairly when it launched its service in Azad Kashmir (AJK).

Nayatel’s case was heard by Justice Aamer Farooq on Friday. When the PTA began attempts to deliver fibre broadband services in AJK, the petitioner claimed the PTA treated him unfairly.

The Special Communication Organisation (SCO), a government-owned entity that operates commercial telecom business in AJK and GB under the administrative control of the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MOIT), is a government-owned entity that operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MOIT).

PTA has been taking discriminatory actions against Nayatel since the company attempted to enter the AJK’s fibre broadband market, according to the petitioner, including delaying licence applications for more than 270 days when the law required a new licence to be issued in 120 days, delaying commencement certificates without explanation, delaying hearing and decision of appeals that were required by law to be decided in 30 days, and delaying hearing and decision of appeals that were required by law to be decided in 30 days to impair the business.

According to the petition, PTA issued a notice to Nayatel on January 20, 2022, threatening legal action if its CEO raised industry issues and PTA’s discriminatory treatment of other operators in relation to SCO at a national broadband forum in Islamabad on November 10, 2021, where President Arif Alvi was the chief guest. The subject of the SCO receiving free wireless spectrum for cellular mobile services was also brought up.

The PTA, Cabinet Division, and the ministry have all received notices from Justice Aamer Farooq.According to the petition, there was an alleged conflict of interest between PTA Chairman retired Major General Aamir Azeem Bajwa and the SCO because the former was the SCO’s director general for two years before retiring and being inducted as the PTA chairman by the previous government in January 2019.