Law minister defends government’s approval for calls interceptions by ISI

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar defended the federal government’s decision to authorise the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to intercept calls, citing the existence of a 1996 law that regulates such activities without interference across successive administrations.

Speaking during a National Assembly session, Tarar stated that the law ensured calls were recorded within legal parameters, having been introduced in 1996 with subsequent amendments.

Read more: Federal govt granted ISI authority to intercept citizens’ phone calls

“The law has appointed senior-grade officers to prevent misuse and pledges consequences for violators,” Tarar added. He talked about the law’s “effectiveness” in critical situations and to ensure safeguards against constitutional violations.

The federal cabinet’s recent decision to authorise designated officers within sensitive institutions to trace calls has drawn opposition from political rivals, who have announced plans to challenge it in court.

Earlier, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication issued a notification authorising the ISI to intercept and trace calls in the name of “national security”.

The directive was sanctioned under section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. It empowers ISI officers of grade 18 and above to undertake these activities as needed.

The current directive followed previous legal statements indicating that no intelligence agency had been granted permission to monitor audio conversations.

The decision led to widespread criticism from civil rights advocates and political figures who argue that granting extensive surveillance powers raises significant concerns about privacy rights and civil liberties protected by Pakistan’s constitution.