The federal government has given its nod to the country’s premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence to intercept and trace calls and messages in the apprehension of an offence against national security.
The federal cabinet has approved the relevant circular allowing a designated officer of the ISI to carry out the tracing of calls under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996. However, the officer nominated by the agency cannot be of less than grade 18.
The aforementioned section of the Telecommunications Act allows the federal government to authorise any person or persons to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system in the interest of national security.
It also states that the government will have preference and priority in the telecommunication system over any licensee for the defence or security of the country against any foreign aggression.
“The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorise the officers […] to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system,” read the notification issued by the Ministry of Information on Monday.
The move comes against the back drop of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government’s steps towards stricter social media regulations citing national security concerns and the prevailing ban on popular social media platform X.
In May, PM Shehbaz had approved a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 which suggested the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority.
