LAHORE: The federal government’s decision to allow Inter-Services Intel­li­gence (ISI) to tap phone calls has been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Citizen Mashkoor Hus­sain has filed a writ petition through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, saying the federal government issued a notification permitting the Inter-Services Intelligence to tap phone calls.

He pleaded that call-tapping is a serious invasion of an individual’s privacy. With the growth of highly sophisticated communication technology, the right to hold telephone conversation, in the privacy of one’s home or office without interference, is increasingly vulnerable to abuse.

The petitioner argued that to enjoy protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is an inalienable right of every citizen of the country under Article 4 of the Constitution.

He said the rules for Section 54 of the Act have not yet been formulated and argued that the power vested in the federal government could not be delegated to any person without framing rules.

The petitioner asked the court to set aside the impugned notification for being unconstitutional and also ordered the federal government to formulate the rules for exercising the powers delegated under Section 54 of the Telecom act.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Trump’s folly
Updated 13 Feb, 2025

Trump’s folly

This latest pronouncement only reinforces the fears of those who see the plan as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.
Corruption ranking
13 Feb, 2025

Corruption ranking

IT comes as little surprise. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, unveiled on...
Support from remittances
13 Feb, 2025

Support from remittances

EVEN though workers’ remittances dipped, albeit negligibly, in January on a month-over-month basis, the earnings...
Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...