ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is at the center of a growing scandal following allegations that millions of IMEI numbers have been stolen and misused. Leaked audio recordings reveal that PTA officials have shifted responsibility onto mobile phone manufacturers, further fueling accusations of corruption and mismanagement. The controversy first emerged in an exclusive report by TechJuice on stolen IMEI numbers being reassigned to high-end smuggled phones, such as iPhones and Samsung models, effectively bypassing PTA’s tax regulations. Instead of addressing the crisis, PTA’s Member Compliance, during a Zoom meeting with industry representatives, attempted to absolve the regulatory body of responsibility. According to audio obtained by TechJuice, the official instructed mobile phone manufacturers to develop a technical solution for the issue, despite PTA’s multi-million-dollar Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) already being in place. As per documents and details available with TechJuice in audio and video formats, officials from mobile phone companies claim that PTA’s technical compliance team, led by Khawar Khokhar and consultant Talib Dogar, has deliberately allowed the system to fail over the past nine years. The IMEI registration and blocking system, which cost $24 million, was allegedly sabotaged from within, resulting in billions of rupees in lost duties. Industry sources allege that PTA officials have allowed the fraudulent reassignment of IMEIs to continue unchecked, benefiting smugglers while disconnecting legitimate users. One mobile phone manufacturer disclosed that thousands of unsold handsets had their IMEI numbers stolen and sold on the black market. Another source warned that doubts have emerged regarding the identification of Pakistan’s 180 million active mobile phones, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of PTA’s oversight. The scandal has also affected ordinary consumers, many of whom have reported their legally purchased phones being suddenly blocked. A resident of Rawalpindi, who bought an Infinix Hot 10 in 2022, found the device blocked two years later, with PTA demanding an additional Rs3,500 in tax to restore access. Another customer, who purchased an Infinix Hot 40 from a local retailer, received a PTA message stating that the IMEI was not registered—despite the device carrying a PTA-approved sticker at the time of purchase. Frustrated consumers have taken to social media to accuse PTA of running a "scam," alleging that the authority is extorting money from users by blocking previously approved phones. The backlash has intensified as PTA has failed to provide any clear justification for these IMEI deactivations. TechJuice reached out to PTA for an official response regarding the IMEI theft allegations and the blocking of legally purchased phones, but the regulator has not issued any statement. Meanwhile, the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Association has called for a high-level investigation into PTA’s handling of the IMEI registration system. Industry experts warn that if a full audit is conducted, it could expose one of the largest cyber frauds in Pakistan’s history, potentially implicating key figures within PTA’s technical department.