July 9, 2024
By Bilal Baseer
ISLAMABAD
The federal government of Pakistan has granted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) authority to intercept and trace calls and messages for national security purposes.
A notification from the Ministry of Information on July 8 announced that for national security and crime prevention, the federal cabinet has authorised ISI-designated officers to intercept and trace calls and messages through any communication system.
Following a federal cabinet decision, an ISI officer designated for call tracing under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996 must be at least grade 18.
According to Section 54 of the Telecommunications Act, the federal government can authorise designated persons to intercept and trace communications through any telecommunication system to ensure national security.
Meanwhile, in response to the government decision, civil society has strongly criticised it as a clear breach of citizens’ privacy rights.
Author and prominent journalist Raza Rumi expressed his dismay on X, stating, “This is an incredible and direct assault on the constitutional rights of citizens. Shameful.”
In a post on X, another journalist, Matiullah Jan, wrote, “What Imran Khan used to verbally assert, Shehbaz Sharif has now written down.”
He added that rules cannot override constitutional rights, questioning the legitimacy of the ISI’s role as a law enforcement agency.
نکاح بعد از زیادتی
تحریر: مطیع اللہ جان
چلو کاغذی کاروائی بھی مکمل ہو گئی
جس چیز کو عمران خان زبانی طور پر درست کہتے تھے وہ چیز شھباز شریف نے لکھ کر دے دی۔
مگر قواعد آئینی حقوق بشمول عزت نفس اور چادر اور چاردیواری کے تحفظ پر حاوی نہیں ہو سکتے۔ ویسے آئی ایس آئی کب سے قانون… pic.twitter.com/ARqAQVsysy
— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) July 9, 2024
“Since when did the ISI become a law enforcement agency? Will ISI officers now also appear in court to testify about their secret recordings?” Jan asked.
“Under the Fair Trial Act, secret phone recordings of citizens’ private conversations can only be made with court permission. Will ISI officers seek such permission from the courts for these recordings? Even if they do, during the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will any judge be able to refuse ISI such permission?” he continued.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, announced plans to legally challenge the government’s action, condemning phone tapping as unconstitutional and contrary to fundamental rights outlined in the constitution.
Ayub indicated that he would contest the government notification in the court with the assistance of his party leader and legal counsel Babar Awan.