LAHORE: A petition challenging the authority of sensitive institutions to tap phones has been filed in the Lahore High Court. Citizen Fahad Shabbir, represented by advocate Nadeem Sarwar, is contesting a government notification that permits phone tapping by these agencies.
The petition names the prime minister, the federal government, and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, among others, as respondents. According to the petition, the notification allows sensitive institutions to tap the phones of their colleagues, raising significant privacy concerns.
Fahad Shabbir’s petition argues that the section under which the notification was issued has not yet been codified into rules. The petitioner maintains that the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to privacy and freedom of expression. By permitting phone tapping without clear regulatory frameworks, the government is allegedly infringing on these constitutional rights.
Referencing a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court, the petition asserts that phone tapping constitutes a violation of constitutional rights. “According to the Indian Supreme Court, tapping people’s phones is a violation of the Constitution,” the petition states.
The petitioner has requested the court to declare the government’s notification illegal and to suspend the proceedings related to the notification until a final decision is reached on the current application.
On the other hand, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly supported phone tapping by security agencies, emphasizing its necessity in the ongoing war against terrorism. Asif’s remarks came amid heated debates and criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, particularly from party leader Omer Ayub.
In an interview with a foreign media outlet, Khawaja Asif underscored the importance of phone tapping for national security. “We are in a war against terrorism. I support phone tapping in the current situation,” he stated.
He further insisted that everyone should back the measure, highlighting that the phone tapping issue is currently navigating through legal channels. “Phone tapping is necessary for national security,” he claimed.
The defense minister also dismissed the PTI’s objections as hypocritical, pointing out the party’s inconsistent stance on the matter.
“When the PTI founder (Imran Khan) was on good terms with the establishment, every legitimate and illegitimate thing seemed acceptable to him. Today, his followers find the same thing hateful,” Asif remarked.
