Pakistanis are up in arms about a potential privacy breach by their own government. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the country’s telecom regulator, is under fire for allegedly running a mass surveillance system that monitors citizens’ communications without proper legal safeguards.
This issue surfaced after leaked phone conversations led to legal challenges by Bushra Bibi and Najamus Saqib. In response, Justice Babar Sattar has summoned PTA officials to court on September 4th to answer for their actions.
The system at the center of the controversy is called the “Lawful Intercept Management System” (LIMS). The name itself is ironic, as critics argue that LIMS allows authorities to intercept and monitor the phone calls and potentially even video and audio data of up to 4 million Pakistani citizens.
However, the real concern lies in the lack of proper legal authorization and established procedures governing LIMS. Digital rights experts like Nighat Dad and Haroon Baloch warn that this unregulated system creates a breeding ground for potential misuse and blatant violations of citizen privacy.
Also read: Imran Khan Announces To Go On Hunger Strike Over Lack Of Confidence In Chief Justice Isa
Furthermore, unauthorized access to such data could lead to criminal charges for those involved. The PTA is also accused of misrepresenting LIMS by portraying it as a legitimate system for lawful interception. Critics argue that the system’s capacity for large-scale, unregulated surveillance contradicts this claim.
What do you think of the story? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more latest news on Gazette Now
