Pakistan has allowed its army's intelligence agency to eavesdrop on phone calls and messages, thereby strengthening its strategic role in the country's politics, causing concern among opposition politicians and social network users about potential abuse or violation of privacy, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
In a country that has been ruled by the military for almost half of its independent history, the new powers of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are causing widespread concern, the agency noted. Justice Minister Azam Nazer Tarar told parliament that the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications had been notified of the change in a notification dated July 8.
"Anyone who misuses the law will be brought to justice," Tarrar said, adding that the measure will be limited to tracking criminal and terrorist activities and the government will ensure that it does not intrude into the privacy of the people.
This move was opposed in the parliament by the Pakistani opposition party "Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf" (PTI) of the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He has previously supported the ISI's surveillance of politicians or even himself without the need for legal authorization, Reuters recalled.