Rights activists raise privacy concerns after Pakistan authorizes top spy agency to tap calls, messages

A man wearing a facemask speaks on his mobile phone sitting behind a closed gate during a government-imposed lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Rawalpindi on March 25, 2020. (AFP/File)
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Updated 09 July 2024
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Rights activists raise privacy concerns after Pakistan authorizes top spy agency to tap calls, messages

  • Pakistan this week authorized its Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency to tap calls, intercept messages in the ‘interest of national security’
  • The decision drew public attention to issue of surveillance by spy agencies, particularly after leaking of several audio clips of notable figures

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani analysts and rights activists on Tuesday criticized the Pakistan government’s authorization of the country’s premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and trace calls on the pretext of national security, saying the move would undermine privacy of citizens and could be used to suppress political opponents, activists and media.
In a notification issued on Monday, the information technology (IT) ministry said the government had authorized the ISI to intercept phone calls and messages “in the interest of national security,” adding to the already outsized role and powers of the shadowy military outfit.
The decision has drawn attention to the issue of surveillance by spy agencies, particularly after audio clips, including those of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, were leaked online ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.
Arab News reached out to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), information ministry and telecom operators for comments on a recent surveillance system sought by government from telecom operators and the impact of fresh authorization to intercept calls on consumers, but none of them responded to the queries.
“The government’s step to allow intelligence agencies to intercept calls and by notification provide legitimacy to such government actions is extremely unfortunate because it allows non-transparent and unchallengeable circumstances for the citizens to protect their own privacy,” Adnan Rehmat, a journalist and media activist, told Arab News.
“This sneaky way of notifying to provide so-called legality to intercepting calls seems to be more political, triggered and designed.”
Although the government has the right to formulate policies, it must do so after open discussion and consultations, especially for policies impacting the lives of common citizens as these cannot be executive decisions and the viewpoints of those affected must be heard, according to Rehmat.
He said this was also a “suspicious move,” given the past experiences of tapping phone calls of political leaders, rights activists and other prominent figures, including judges.
Following the leaking of their telephonic conversations, ex-PM Khan’s wife, Bushra Khan, and others filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), challenging the unauthorized surveillance and privacy violations. During the hearings, it was revealed that the PTA had required telecom companies to fund, import and install a mass surveillance system to access citizens’ data.
According to court documents seen by Arab News, the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) enables access to private messages, video and audio content, call logs and web browsing histories. The court later observed that the mass surveillance system “lacked a legal foundation” and was being put in place without judicial or executive oversight.
Nighat Dad, executive-director of the non-profit Digital Rights Foundation based in Pakistan, said the IT ministry’s notification granted permission to listen to private conversations without adequate justification or reasoning, which violated the right to privacy.
“It also contravenes the Fair Trial Act by lacking oversight and accountability measures in case of misuse,” she told Arab News.
The Fair Trial Act stipulates that surveillance or interception of a citizen must be authorized by a proper warrant, including warrants issued under section 11, which permits the collection of evidence through interception, audio or video recording, communication monitoring, or surveillance of movements.
“If the privacy of citizens not posing a threat to national security is infringed upon, what legal recourse do they have,” she questioned, saying that this was concerning because surveillance orders typically included protections and safeguards for citizens everywhere.
Usama Khilji, a director at the ‘Bolo Bhi’ advocacy forum for digital rights, said the Fair Trial Act outlined a process for lawful interception that required obtaining a court warrant, which the latest notification violated and ignored.
“The excuse of national security has been used since the inception of Pakistan to justify political meddling and this is another example of it,” he told Arab News.
The audio leaks case in the Islamabad High Court clearly illustrated the political nature of surveillance, particularly targeting activists, journalists and political leaders, according to Khilji. It is an effort to provide “legal cover to existing practices.”
“There should be transparency and legal oversight over all surveillance mechanisms along with avenues for redress against illegal surveillance,” he added.
Munizae Jahangir, a Pakistani journalist and activist, said the government move was a clear violation of an individual’s fundamental rights and also Article 14 of the constitution as no law or provision within any law superseded the constitution.
Article 14 of the Constitution of Pakistan clearly states that the dignity of a man shall be inviolable, and within lawful limits, and home privacy shall remain private.
“It is hoped that this will be legally challenged as it likely contravenes privacy rights and may not withstand legal scrutiny,” she told Arab News, questioning if this was an attempt to turn Pakistan into a “security state.”
“The provisions outlined in the notification are typically reserved for times of war, which we are clearly not in.”
She said it was evident that such measures were being used not against militancy, but to “control political opponents, media, judiciary and human rights activists.”
Iqbal Khattak, executive director of the Islamabad-based Freedom Network civil liberties organization, warned that without a clear oversight mechanisms and well-consulted terms of references, this move would undoubtedly violate freedom of speech and privacy.
“Time and again, we have witnessed that in the name of national security, individual freedoms are consistently under attack,” he told Arab News.
Created in 1948, the ISI gained importance and power during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and is now rated one of best-organized intelligence agencies in the developing world.
Widely feared by Pakistanis, it is believed to have a hidden role in many of the nuclear-armed nation’s policies, including in Afghanistan and India. The ISI is seen as the Pakistani equivalent of the US Central Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad. Its size is not publicly known but the ISI is widely believed to employ tens of thousands of agents, with informers in many spheres of public life.


13 women-led startups graduate from program by Pakistan’s largest digital bank

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13 women-led startups graduate from program by Pakistan’s largest digital bank

  • Incubator program equipped women with skills, financial literacy and tools to upscale startups, says Mobilink Bank 
  • Pakistani startup Ecobricks bags “Best Startup Award” while Recycle Bin, EcoGrow each won Innovation Challenge 

ISLAMABAD: Thirteen women-led startups recently graduated from an incubator program offered by Pakistan’s largest digital microfinance bank, equipping them with skills, financial literacy and the tools to upscale their enterprises, Mobilink Bank said in a statement this week. 

International and local rights groups have spoken out against women being marginalized in conservative Pakistan, where they are often subjected to gender inequality, suffer from lack of work opportunities, face violence and sexual abuse. 

A graduation ceremony of Mobilink Bank’s ‘Women Inspirational Network (WIN) Incubator Program’ was held in Islamabad on Saturday, Mar. 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The event was attended by key stakeholders, industry leaders, businesswomen, partner organizations and media representatives, Mobilink Bank said in a statement on Monday. 

“As a future-ready bank, we’re not just providing tools and opportunities but paving the way for lasting change,” Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, chief executive officer and president of Mobilink Bank, said in a statement. “When a woman rises, she lifts her family and community with her.”

Graduates of ‘Women Inspirational Network (WIN) Incubator Program’ pose for a picture in Islamabad March 8, 2025. (Mobilink Microfinance Bank)

Pakistani startup Ecobricks received the “Best Startup Award” and a prize of Rs1 million ($3,573), while Recycle Bin and EcoGrow were each awarded Rs500,000 ($1,786) as winners of the Innovation Challenge. 

“The awards recognized promising ideas and provided crucial financial support to fuel these businesses’ continued growth and success,” the bank said. “The bank also announced the launch of the program’s second cohort to continue nurturing a thriving ecosystem for women-led businesses.”

Pakistan’s foreign secretary Amna Baloch was the chief guest at the event. She described the incubator program as a “resounding success.”

“The stories of these women inspire hope and motivate others to take the reins of their lives into their own hands,” Baloch said in a statement.


Pakistan oil regulator in crosshairs of refineries, marketing firms over ‘take or pay’ clause

Updated 50 min 41 sec ago
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Pakistan oil regulator in crosshairs of refineries, marketing firms over ‘take or pay’ clause

  • OMCs strongly oppose proposal due to fear of liquidity crises, supply disruptions and potential market exits
  • Refineries say oil marketing firms failing to lift product disrupts operations, threatens supply chain stability

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) said this week it would mediate between refineries and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to reach a “mutually agreeable” resolution on differences over the authority’s proposal to impose a “take or pay” clause in purchase agreements with refineries, which OMCs argue would unfairly burden them.

Pakistan has five oil refineries that process crude oil to produce refined petroleum products. Around 30 OMCs are licensed by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to ensure the availability of petroleum products in the country.

A conflict emerged between local oil refineries and OMCs over OGRA’s proposal to include a take or pay clause in Sales Purchase Agreements (SPAs), with OMCs strongly opposing the move fearing liquidity crises, supply disruptions and potential market exits. Under the new contracts, oil marketing companies would have to pay at least cost to refineries if they are unable to pick up their allocated quantities of product.

The chairman of the Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP), a body representing two dozen small and medium-sized Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), wrote a letter to OGRA Chairman Masroor Khan this week to formally oppose the proposed clause, saying it would serve the interests of refineries and large OMCs at the expense of smaller players, further consolidating the monopolistic control of big fish in the oil sector. 

OGRA spokesperson Imran Ghaznavi told Arab News refineries and OMCs had been asked to enter into written sale and purchase contracts. 

“The take or pay clause means if an OMC does not buy the contracted quantity, it will still have to pay the purchase price or a penalty and vice versa,” he said. 

OMAP chairman Tariq Wazir Ali told Arab News on Monday the body had “expressed our grave concerns regarding the proposed imposition of the take or pay clause in the SPAs between refineries and OMCs as it poses significant risks to the financial sustainability of OMCs.” 

He said imposing a take or pay clause would hamper competition, discourage new entrants, and ultimately harm the overall efficiency of the petroleum supply chain. He also said the proposed clause overlooked refineries’ opportunistic behavior as they often withheld supply when prices were expected to rise, forcing OMCs into costly imports, and offloaded maximum stock when prices fell, causing financial losses to OMCs.

Given these circumstances, it was unreasonable to expect OMCs to bear inventory losses while refineries remained insulated from the market’s volatility, Ali said. 

“The proposed mechanism must be accompanied by a robust enforcement framework ensuring that refineries adhere to the same rules of fair play and supply commitments, regardless of market price trends,” he added, urging OGRA to convene an inclusive consultative meeting with equal representation of all stakeholders, including small and medium OMCs, before finalizing a decision. 

“MUTUALLY AGREEABLE CONTRACTS“

The conflict has emerged after five leading oil refineries wrote a letter to the OGRA chairman, arguing that OMCs had frequently failed to pick up agreed quantities of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) and Motor Gasoline (MOGAS), which had disrupted refinery operations and threatened supply chain stability. The refineries said while they maintained commercial agreements with OMCs, it was OGRA’s responsibility to enforce compliance with these contracts.

The refineries pointed to Rule 35(g) of the Pakistan Oil (Refining, Blending, Transportation, Storage, and Marketing) Rules 2016, which mandates that local production must be prioritized before allowing imports. Keeping this in mind, they have supported OGRA’s suggestion of introducing a take or pay clause to ensure product uplift but say it should be implemented through mutual agreement and strict regulatory oversight. 

“The engagement sessions with the OMCs will start soon,” OGRA spokesperson Ghaznavi said, “and OGRA will, in the best national interest and for achieving efficiency in the oil supply chain, mediate between refineries and OMCs for a mutually agreeable sale and purchase contracts.”


Pakistan launches first dematerialized ID card on silver jubilee of database authority 

Updated 10 March 2025
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Pakistan launches first dematerialized ID card on silver jubilee of database authority 

  • Digital Pakistan initiative aims to expand knowledge-based economy, spur socio-economic growth using digital technologies
  • Pakistan has made considerable progress in its digital transformation journey with rapid expansion of mobile broadband networks 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) marked its silver jubilee on Monday, launching the country’s first dematerialized ID card to commemorate 25 years in legal identity management and national database integration.

The launch of the new card is part of the government’s vision of a Digital Pakistan, where citizens will have digital certificates instead of material ID or, at least, in addition to material ones.

“Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi commended the launch of the dematerialized ID as a step toward digital identity,” NADRA said in a statement. 

“With the launch of this feature in the Pak ID Mobile Application, citizens will no longer need to carry physical ID cards. Moreover, digital verification systems will soon be implemented to facilitate authentication for various services under the World Bank-funded Digital Economy Enhancement Project.”

A pilot project for the fully digital identity will be launched on Aug. 14, 2025 to coincide with Pakistan’s Independence Day.

Pakistan has made considerable progress in its digital transformation journey with the rapid expansion of mobile broadband networks over the last decade. Today, nearly 80 percent of the adult population lives in areas served by mobile broadband (3G or 4G) networks, compared to 15 percent in 2010. But experts say more work must be done to ensure that connectivity reaches everyone, as only 22 percent of the population is subscribed to mobile Internet. 

To this end, Digital Pakistan is a flagship initiative of the government to expand the knowledge-based economy and spur socio-economic growth using digital technologies. 

“The vision with regards to Digital Pakistan Policy is to become a strategic enabler for an accelerated digitization ecosystem to expand the knowledge based economy and spur socio- economic growth,” according to a government policy document outlining the strategy.


No Pakistani players on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 team of the tournament

Updated 10 March 2025
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No Pakistani players on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 team of the tournament

  • India won ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Mar. 9 
  • Pakistan crashed out of home trophy without a win

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced its ‘Team of the Tournament’ for the Champions Trophy 2025, which concluded last week, with no Pakistani player making it on the prestigious list.

The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy saw India being crowned as the winners on Mar. 9 after they overcame New Zealand in the final. Pakistan ended their campaign in the home trophy without a win.

“Several exceptional performers lit up the tournament with the bat and ball,” ICC said on its website. “The best of them made it to the Team of the Tournament.”

The team includes six players from India, four from New Zealand and two from Afghanistan.

Here’s what the side looks like:

1. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)

251 runs, 62.75 average, two hundreds

2. Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)

216 runs, 72 average, one hundred

3. Virat Kohli (India)

218 runs, 54.5 average, one hundred

4. Shreyas Iyer (India)

243 runs, 48.6 average, two fifties

5. KL Rahul (wk) (India)

140 runs, 140 average, 42 highest score*

6. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)

177 runs, 59 average, two wickets, five catches

7. Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)

126 runs, 42 average, seven wickets, one five-wicket haul

8. Mitchell Santner (c) (New Zealand)

Nine wickets, 26.6 average, 4.80 economy

9. Mohammed Shami (India)

Nine wickets, 25.8 average, 5.68 economy, one five-wicket haul

10. Matt Henry (New Zealand)

Ten wickets, 16.7 average, 5.32 economy, one five-wicket haul

11. Varun Chakaravarthy (India)

Nine wickets, 15.1 average, 4.53 economy

12th player: Axar Patel (India)

Five wickets, 39.2 average, 4.35 economy


Geopolitics and lack of buzz blight Champions Trophy’s return

Updated 10 March 2025
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Geopolitics and lack of buzz blight Champions Trophy’s return

  • Indian board BCCI stuck to their policy of not touring Pakistan because of strained political ties 
  • Allowing India to play all their matches in Dubai robbed Pakistan of honor of hosting the final 

Geopolitical reality, lack of buzz in host nation Pakistan and mediocre cricket in general meant Champions Trophy’s much-anticipated return to the calendar did not go according to plan for the governing International Cricket Council (ICC).
The one-day international (ODI) tournament served as an ICC fundraiser but offered no assurance about the future of a format battling for relevance in a cricket landscape ruled by Twenty20 leagues either.
Financial engine India’s participation, a key factor behind the commercial success of any cricket tournament, was in doubt after Pakistan bagged the hosting rights for the first ICC event in the country since 1996.
The Indian board (BCCI) stuck to their policy of not touring Pakistan because of the strained political ties between the bitter neighbors, who play each other only in ICC events.
Like for the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, a ‘hybrid model’ was agreed on under which India were allowed to play their matches in Dubai to salvage a tournament, which had been discontinued after the 2017 edition.
Under the agreement running until 2027, Pakistan will play in a neutral venue for any ICC event, like next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled in India.
Reigning T20 world champions India beat New Zealand in Sunday’s final to prove their credentials as a white-ball behemoth.
India have lost just one match — the final of the ODI World Cup in 2023 — in their last three ICC events and probably did not require what many called an “unfair advantage” of playing all their matches in Dubai.
“I feel sorry for India’s cricketers,” award-winning cricket writer Nicholas Brookes told Reuters.
“They are an outstanding team – in my mind, streets ahead of their competition regardless of conditions, and one of the greatest white-ball sides the game has seen.
“This tournament should have been their victory lap, but their brilliance has been somewhat overshadowed by constant questions about unfair advantages.”
Allowing India to play all their matches in Dubai robbed Pakistan of the honor of hosting the final and disrupted the schedule of the knockout matches.
South Africa were made to take a farcical 18-hour trip to Dubai in anticipation of a semifinal against India before flying back to Pakistan to face New Zealand.

“BENDING OVER BACKWARDS”

The whole affair made the ICC, currently headed by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, look weak in front of the world’s richest cricket board.
The scheduling also favored India, who had a week’s rest between their last two group matches, while Afghanistan played twice in three days.
“That looks like the ICC putting finances ahead of fairness,” said Brookes, whose “An Island’s Eleven” charts the history of Sri Lankan cricket and won the Wisden Book Of The Year award in 2023.
“Some people will naturally think that the governing body is bending over backwards to accommodate India.”
Defending champions Pakistan looked under-prepared for the tournament, both on and off the field.
Eleventh-hour facelift to stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, sparse crowd and three washouts dampened the spirit among the locals.
Adding to their woes, Mohammed Rizwan and his men finished bottom of Group A after a winless campaign that included a defeat by arch-rivals India.
An injury-ravaged Australia fielded a second string pace attack with Steve Smith, who quit ODIs after their semifinal exit, leading them in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins.
New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra bagged the player-of-the-tournament prize, while fellow Black Cap Glenn Phillips redefined fielding with gravity-defying catches and India’s Virat Kohli proved he is not a spent force yet but the cricket was largely mediocre.
Afghanistan could not make the last four but impressed on their Champions Trophy debut while former champions England are searching for a new captain after their winless campaign prompted Jos Buttler to step down.