The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has granted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) the authority to intercept and trace calls in the name of national security, according to a recent notification. This notification, issued on Monday, referred to Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, as the basis for this authorization. The ISI officers nominated for this task must be of at least grade 18.
This news comes in light of a recent case at the Islamabad High Court, where it was disclosed that no intelligence agency had been given permission to listen in on audio conversations. The court was informed during a hearing of a petition filed by Bushra Bibi, spouse of ex-premier Imran Khan, regarding a leaked conversation involving her and PTI leader Latif Khosa. Bushra Bibi argued that the leak violated her right to privacy and dignity as protected by Article 14 of the Constitution.
This decision raises concerns about privacy and security in Pakistan, as government agencies gain more surveillance capabilities. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.