The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) organisation in Pakistan has been legally authorised by the government to intercept texts and phone calls. The opposition and social media have both heavily criticised the move.
For “national security” purposes, the military-run ISI will have the legal authority to intercept and track messages and phone calls.
With the passage of this new law, the strong military—which has a track record of influencing political decisions in Pakistan—has strengthened its hold on power. Azam Nazeer Tarar, the minister of law, told the legislature on July 8 that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications had been notified of this move.
As per the notification seen by Reuters, “Officers may intercept calls and messages or trace calls through any telecom system in the interest of national security and the apprehension of any offence, with the approval of the federal government.”
Tarar promised that there will be consequences for breaking the law and that the policy is meant to combat criminal and terrorist activity. He said, emphasising that the government would stop any invasion of people’s privacy, “Anyone who misuses the law will face action.”
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The motion in parliament was rejected by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is led by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan stated that the agency may use its authority to target MPs from the government and vowed to appeal the ruling in court.
In the past, Khan had supported the illegal monitoring of politicians’ phone calls by the ISI, including his own.
Omar Ayub Khan, the leader of the party, pledged that his group would file a legal challenge and predicted that the agency would likely use its authority even against MPs.
The opposition leader claimed that the authorization gives the intelligence agency the ability to censor free expression and permits it to keep an eye on social media profiles as well.
The ministry of law responded by stating that law enforcement and intelligence already has access to data or interception whenever is necessary.
The Inter-Services Public Relations Wing of the army chose not to respond. A request for comment regarding the possibility of privacy violations and misuse for political purposes resulting from the legal authorization was not answered by the information ministry.