According to people familiar with the situation, the federal government granted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency the authority to intercept and trace calls and texts in national security matters.
This is a bold decision by the federal government as this is a direct attack on the privacy of the people of Pakistan.
During a recent federal cabinet meeting, the decision was reached to apply Section 54 of the Telecommunications (Reorganization)
Act 1996. This clause authorizes authorized ISI officers; no lower than grade 18, to perform such actions.
This kind of decision occurs in politically non-democratic countries where based on security issues people are contained of their right to speak.
The federal government has also released a statement in this respect.
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It said, “The federal government, in its efforts to safeguard national security and prevent offenses, has authorized ISI officers nominated periodically to intercept calls and trace messages through communication systems,”
The Telecommunications Act allows the government to empower anyone to intercept or track communications for national security purposes, prioritizing national defense and security against foreign threats.