STAFF REPORT IBD: A petition for earliest auction of third-generation telecom licenses (3G, 4G, LTE) has been accepted by Supreme Court of Pakistan for hearing and issued notices to respondents for filing para-wise comments within 10 days.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising other two judges Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the petition filed by Khurram Shahzad.
The petitioner made Federation of Pakistan through Secretary of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Frequency Allocation Board and Universal Service Fund through its CEO the parties of the case.
The petitioner prayed that the country needs modernization and fine telecommunication services, for which auction of the 3G licenses is delayed for uncomprehendable reasons.
The petitioner further prayed for early completion of the process of appointment of the three members of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (two members and a Chairman) on an urgent basis rendering the authority functional and to issue directives to respondents to undertake and complete the auction of the 3G spectrum and licenses on urgent basis.