The Pakistani government on Tuesday formally authorized the country’s largest spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and track phone calls in the interest of national security.
 "Pakistan allows ISI to intercept and track calls for national security reasons")
The government also said it would have priority over any other licensee in the telecommunications system to safeguard national defence and security against foreign threats. Photo: UnsplashPress Trust of India Islamabad
The Pakistani government on Tuesday formally authorized the country’s largest spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and track phone calls in the interest of national security.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications issued a notification to this effect under the Pakistan Telecommunications (Reorganization) Act, 1996.
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The notification states that in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 54, the Union Government is pleased to authorise any officer of the rank of 18th and above, to be designated by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from time to time, in the interest of national security and for the prevention of any offence, to intercept calls and messages and trace calls through any communication system envisaged under Section 54 of the Act.
It also provides that the government has priority over any other licensee in the telecommunications system in order to protect national defense and security against foreign threats.
“The federal government has the power to impose restrictions on police officers in the interest of national security and the prevention of all crimes. […] The notice further states that they may be “appointed by the ISI from time to time to intercept calls and messages and trace calls through any communication system.”
Sources said the notification came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government formally decided at the cabinet level to allow the ISI to track and record phone calls.
