Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government has legally authorised its army-run spy agency to tap telephone calls and messages. In Pakistan, the powerful military plays an important role in making and breaking governments.
Now, the new powers for its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency provoked an uproar from the opposition and on social media.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told Parliament that in a July 8 notice, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications had been advised of the change.
On Tuesday, Tarar said that those who misuse the law would face action and added that the measure would be restricted to tracking criminal and terrorist activities and the government would make sure it did not infringe lives and privacy of people.
“The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence, is pleased to authorise officers … to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecoms system,” said the notice, seen by Reuters.
In Parliament, the move was opposed by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A leader of the PTI party, Omar Ayub Khan, stressed that the ISI would wield its powers even against government lawmakers, and promised that his party would mount a court challenge.
The Inter-Services Public Relations Wing (ISPR) of the Pakistan Army did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
(With inputs from Reuters)