The government’s decision to grant the ISI the power to tap phones was challenged in the Lahore High Court.
A citizen, Fahad Shabbir, filed an application in the Lahore High Court to involve the prime minister, the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation, among others, in the case.
The petition claims that the Pakistani government has issued a notification that allows the ISI to tap people’s phones. The part of the Personal Data Protection Act under which this notice was issued does not yet have rules. The Constitution of Pakistan provides citizens with privacy and freedom of expression.
The petition further states that according to the Supreme Court of India, wiretapping is also a violation of the constitution. The court is asked to declare the notification granting ISI wiretapping permission illegal and stay the implementation of the notification pending a final decision. The government should be directed to make rules for Section 56 of the Data Protection Act.
