It was declared by the Lahore High Court (LHC) that data of bank customers can be considered as property according to the law. It was further stated that misusing such information for any dishonest purpose without their consent could result in a criminal case against the individual. This decision was made in an ongoing case of fraud based on the usage of duplicate SIM cards. This case was filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on behalf of PTA due to a complaint.
LHC Rules Bank Customer Data Is Property, Misuse May Constitute a Crime
According to the case record, confidential information of banks was leaked to create duplicate SIM cards in the names of bank customers. The SIM cards were then used to transfer Rs.10.45 million from the accounts of six customers. The case included two suspects. One suspect was Muhammad Atif, a bank employee. The other was Muhammad Usman, who ran a telecom franchise where the SIM cards were allegedly issued.
Court Rejects Bank Employee’s Bail
The case for post-arrest bail was decided by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh. The court dismissed Muhammad Atif’s bail plea in a case involving bank customer data in Pakistan.
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It was held that documents regarding the investigation and the reports of fraud from the bank and the account log were sufficient early proof against Atif. It was alleged that Atif had passed on to the criminals the registered mobile numbers of customers.
The court stated that bank employees entrusted with customers’ confidential information should keep it secure. If an employee misuses such information for fraud, it may constitute criminal breach of trust. Large Hadron Collider new particle is another topic covered by TechInsights.
Court Grants Bail to Telecom Franchise Owner
A different conclusion was reached by the court in the case of Muhammad Usman. His lawyer said there was not enough evidence linking him to the issuance of duplicate SIMs. The available evidence also did not clearly connect Usman to the alleged activities or changes in the biometric verification system. The court said the case required further investigation. It therefore granted him post-arrest bail against surety bonds of Rs1 million. For more cybersecurity news, read about the Coca-Cola data breach 2026.
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What the LHC Said About Banking Data
According to the court, modern banking relies heavily on digital data. Customer account details and mobile numbers can be used to access or secure banking services, highlighting the importance of customer data protection in Pakistan.
The judgment said that simply having access to customer data does not make a bank worker criminally liable. The worker’s specific role must be assessed based on the available evidence. It was pointed out that the accused could be tried under Peca along with other sections of PPC. Further proceedings in the case would take place as per the law. News source eTimes Pakistan.
