Islamabad: Pakistan has formally authorized its premier spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and trace calls for national security. A notification to this effect was issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996.
"In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 54 the federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorize the officers not below the rank of grade 18 to be nominated from time to time by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system as envisaged under Section 54 of the Act," the notification read.
"The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorize the officers [...] to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system," the notification further stated.
It added that the government will prioritize and have precedence in the telecommunications system over any licensee to safeguard national defense or security against foreign threats. Sources said that the notification followed after the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally decided at the cabinet level to allow the ISI to trace and record calls.
