Mobile phone recovered after 12 years of snatching

Mobile-phone snatching incidents are increasing day by day in Pakistan, particularly in metropolitan city Karachi. Law enforcement agencies have drastically failed to control this ever-growing nuisance. Incidents of mob-justice has became a norm amidst the law-less security situation. It is nearly impossible to find a person who has never been mugged at gunpoint. I myself had lost my two cell-phone during two separate incidents of mobile snatching.

While we rush to get our snatched mobile phone’s sim blocked, most of us overlook the importance of reporting the incident to CPLC. I won’t lie, I myself had little to no faith when it comes to the hope that I would ever be able to recover my snatched cell-phones but a post on fb group (Halaat Updates) by Mr. Tanzeel Ur Rehman where he shared how he got his snatched mobile phone recovered after more than a decade (12 years to be specific) leaved me guilty of not having lodged my complain with CPLC. Had I reported the snatching incident, at-least the chances of getting my cell phone recovered would have been there.


Thus, I would recommend you all to not only get your sim blocked once your cell phone gets snatched/stolen (God forbid) but it's utmost necessary to lodge complain with CPLC as well, after all, who knows you could be getting your snatched/stolen cell phone back!

This is how you can check IMEI number of your cell phone:

Type *#06# using the keypad. IMEI number will be displayed on your screen. Write it down and save it safely somewhere else so that you may report it later to CPLC in case of any need.

Following are the easy step through which you can lodged your complain regarding snatching with CPLC:

1. Contact CPLC 24/7 Call Center helplines on 1102 or 021-35662222 or 021-35682222 for lodging complaint of snatched / stolen / lost mobile phone.
2. Provide IMEI # of snatched / stolen / lost mobile phone along with other relevant information.
3. Information of snatched / stolen / lost mobile phone is sent to PTA for issuing blocking instructions to all mobile network operators.
4. Mobile network operators block snatched / stolen / lost mobile phone within 24 hours.

Original fb post of Mr. Tanzeel Ur Rehman:

“This Friday out of nowhere, I got a call from #CPLC telling the mobile which was #snatched 12 years ago on gun point has been recovered and I can take it from them. With utter disbelief I went to the CPLC office at Governor House and after a minor paper work they handed over my Beloved Sony Ericson #K700i, in mint condition as it was the last time in my pocket. It is now a souvenir of #hope to me, If it is mine it will come to me what ever it may take.”