Pakistan has legally allowed its military-run intelligence agency to eavesdrop on phone calls and messages, strengthening the agency’s key role in politics in a country that has been ruled by military juntas for nearly half of its independence.
In Pakistan, the powerful military plays a disproportionate role in establishing and toppling governments, and new powers for the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have sparked outcry from opposition parties and on social media.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar told parliament that he had informed the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications about the changes in a notification dated July 8.
“Those who misuse the law will be punished,” Talal said on Tuesday, adding that the measures would be limited to tracking criminal and terrorist activities and the government would ensure that they did not infringe on people’s lives and privacy.
“The Federal Government is pleased to authorise its officials to intercept and trace telephone calls and messages through any communications system in the interest of national security and the suppression of any crime,” the notice, seen by Reuters, said.
The move was opposed in parliament by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Khan has previously supported the ISI monitoring politicians’ phones, and even his own, without legal permission.
The party’s leader, Omar Ayub Khan, said the agency would also use its powers against government lawmakers and vowed that the party would take legal action.
The Army’s Directorate General Public Relations (ISPR) did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
“Is what is legal also constitutional and correct?” Fariha Aziz of human rights group Boro Bi asked on X.
