The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued show-cause notices to the chairman and members of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for allegedly misrepresenting facts about the Lawful Intercept Management System. The system, which allows for mass citizen surveillance, has been installed without legal backing, according to the court.
The IHC has given the PTA six weeks to respond to the notices and appear in person on September 4. The court has formed a preliminary view that the PTA has misrepresented itself regarding the system, which can surveil up to 4 million citizens\’ telephone calls at any given time.
The system, installed at the expense of telecom companies, provides designated agencies access to citizens\’ audio and video data without a warrant or legal permission. The court notes that this may have rendered those using or enabling the system liable to criminal liability under various laws, including the Fair Trial Act, Telecom Act, PECA, Telegraph Act, and Pakistan Penal Code.
The petitions were filed by Bushra Bibi, wife of former PM Imran Khan, and Najamus Saqib, son of former CJ Saqib Nisar, against the leaking of their alleged telephone conversations on social media.
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