The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been notified by the caretaker administration that a lawful system for recording citizen phone calls is in existence. Nonetheless, it purposefully stays out of the delicate, day-to-day operations and vital roles that intelligence services play for the good of the country.
A national publication has stated that Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, the caretaker principal secretary to the PM, responded in writing on behalf of the government to the issues posed by the IHC during the hearing on the audio leak case.
The government emphasized in its statement that the PM office expects the intelligence agencies to operate within the bounds of the law and the constitution.
Answering a different query, Dr. Tauqir Shah declined to provide information on the intelligence organization that has the technological ability to monitor and record communications. He contended that discussing the inner workings and operational specifics of intelligence services would be counterproductive to the interests of the country.
The Investigation for Fair Trial Act of 2013, which provides a framework for obtaining authorization to monitor people’s phone calls, was also referenced in the written answer. It further emphasized how crucial it is to protect the privacy of these recordings and stop them from being disclosed.
The Telegraph Act of 1885 also offers a way to get licenses for telegraphs and to intercept messages. It should be mentioned that neither the federal government nor the provincial government may authorize this action.
A high-level inquiry committee has been established to determine who is responsible for the audio leaks case; the secretary notified the IHC. The panel’s job is to look into whether the talks that were leaked are legitimate. The commission consists of senior judges.
It is important to note that the son of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan filed a court case in opposition to the summons issued by a parliamentary committee and the Federal Investigation Agency about the audio leaks.
