The federal government of Pakistan has granted permission to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency to intercept phone calls in the interest of national security across any telecommunications system, and apprehension of criminal activities.
According to a government notification, ISI has been authorised to record phone calls under Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Act, 1996.
The notification also grants the agency authority to trace messages and calls including WhatsApp calls, messages, and other applications.
This authority is vested upon ISI officers of Grade 18 or above, subject to approval by the Prime Minister.
On June 30, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court stated in the judgement of the Audio Leaks case of son of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and Bushra Bibi that any form of surveillance of citizens is illegal under the law, including the surveillance of four million citizens.
The responsibility for this mass surveillance lies with the federal government, and the Prime Minister and the cabinet are collectively and individually accountable for it.
The court order also expressed the expectation that the Prime Minister would seek reports from intelligence agencies and present the matter before the cabinet. The order further directed the Prime Minister to identify those responsible for implementing the lawful Interception Management System and conducting mass surveillance, with reports to be submitted by July 5.
The heads of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) met with the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and two OTHER apex court judges who are hearing a case related to the election in Punjab on May 14 on Monday to update them on the security situation in the country.
According to news reports, the meeting between the judges, the ISI, and MI chiefs continued for over three hours in the CJP’s chamber.It was reported that the intelligence official gave a briefing to the judges on the security issues confronting the country. However, specific outcomes of the meeting remain undisclosed.
A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan had previously ordered that elections in Punjab be held on May 14 and declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to hold polls on October 8 as “unconstitutional”.
Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant-General Nadeem Anjum, has made it clear to all officials of the ISI that no interference in politics and political matters would be tolerated, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.
The incumbent DG ISI is said to have decided soon after he joined the office to keep the institution away from politics.
Lt-Gen Nadeem Anjum had conveyed to all the concerned authorities not to release to the media his pictures or video footage taken during official meetings.
In relevance to the directives, none of his pictures or video footage taken during official meetings has so far been published or shown on TV channels.
Last week, a picture was released by the Prime Minister’s (PM) Office of a luncheon hosted by PM Imran Khan in honour of Bill Gates. The picture in which PM Khan and Bill Gates are sitting with Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Mahmood Khan, Azam Khan, Shaukat Tarin, Shah Farman, Khalid Khurshid, and several others at the main table.
If one looks at the picture closely, someone between Dr Faisal Sultan and Mahmood Khan seems to be ‘missing’.
The Current reached out to its sources and confirmed that it was the DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum who had been photoshopped from the luncheon meeting picture.
Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeen Anjum has asked all authorities concerned not to release to the media his picture or video footage made during an official meeting, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.
A minister on condition of anonymity revealed to the news outlet that the National Security Committee (NCC) met on Monday. The meeting was also attended by the DG ISI. However, the picture and video footage, released to the media by the government, showed almost everyone else except for the top spymaster of the country.
When asked for the reason, the minister said it’s a standing instruction for all concerned from the incumbent DG ISI not to release any of his pictures or video footage of any official meeting that he attends.
The minister added that for the same reason, ever since his appointment as the DG ISI, none of his picture or video footage has been released to the media. Lt-Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib, while commenting on it, said the basic principle of intelligence services is to stay away from the media’s eye.
He said there have been violations of the principle in the past and a number of times the governments had been releasing to the media picture and video footage of the intelligence chiefs.
Gen Shoaib said the intelligence chiefs should not be shown on the media and TV screens. Generally, he explained, the spymasters are not recognised in the public all over the world for the same reason.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan issued a notification on October 26 for the appointment of a new director-general (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed as the new DG ISI and will take charge on November 20.
Notification for the appointment of the General Officers
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today.
The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the premier and army chief about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today.
The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation process between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.
During this process, a list of officers was received from the Ministry of Defence. Prime Minister interviewed all the nominees. A final round of consultation was held between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff today.
After this detailed consultative process, the name of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was approved as the new DG ISI.
The designated DG ISI shall assume charge on November 20.
October 12: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday confirmed the meeting between PM Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and said, “PM Khan is the authority in appointing the DG ISI,” further adding that “all legal methods will be adopted in the appointment of the new director-general”.
However, rumours started circulating that PM Khan wanted Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to continue serving as the spymaster for some time due to the critical situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
October 14: PM Khan convened an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentary group at Parliament House. Journalists questioned PM Khan about the appointment of the DG ISI. PM Khan did not answer the questions but laughed in response.
Prior to this, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad today, where journalists questioned him about the appointment of DG ISI and he responded with laughter as well.
October 15: Fawad told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of the new DG ISI would be issued in two to three days.
News started circulating that PM Khan would take interviews of the potential candidates for the appointment of the new DG ISI and that a new summary with names of candidates for the position of ISI chief had been sent to the Prime Minister. Fawad denied the news and said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI).”
October 19: Fawad said, “All the matters have been resolved” and announced that the notification of the new DG ISI would be issued this week.
“It [Opposition] is thinking that there are some differences between the government and security institutions but its euphoria is gradually fading,” said Fawad.
Senior journalist Saleem Safi, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said, “Ladlay ki niki niki khawaahishein puri hogayi hain” [ Favourite’s small small wishes have been fulfilled]. Safi was alluding to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. His comments come in connection to the notification of the appointment of the new Director-General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. The sources close to the PM Khan said that most probably the notification of the new appointment would be issued on Friday (today).
اپوزیشن سڑکوں پر۔ پھر حکومت گرانے کے دعوے۔ کیا کوئی حکمت عملی ہے؟ کیا حکومت خطرے میں ہے؟ جانیئے سینئر اور بہادرصحافی عاصمہ شیرازی اور سلیم صافی سے
Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada further asked Safi that the Opposition is on the roads against the government but the ruling party seems very relaxed and if there is any strategy behind this because they do not consider the protests of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) a threat.
“Where is the Opposition? I have not seen any Opposition in this country for the past three years. The tragedy is such that the ones who have been given the government do not know how to do governance and the ones in the Opposition do not know how to do Opposition,” replied Safi.
Khanzada questioned senior journalist Asma Shirazi if there is any political strategy with which the Opposition plans on ousting the sitting government?
“Definitely a strategy will be made. The Opposition is relaxed and just reviewing what is happening right now. There is a lot of miss trust with the institutions,” replied Shriazi.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while addressing a PPP rally at Karachi’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of turning the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency into Tiger Force, saying that the current state of the country shows that this is not ‘tabdeeli but destruction’.
“Whatever task Imran Khan undertook saw destruction instead of the promised tabdeeli (change),” he said.
“Imran Khan is also trying to turn all institutions of the country into his Tiger Force. He attacked the parliament, Senate, judiciary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Punjab Police, and Punjab bureaucracy as he changed the Punjab Police chief and chief secretary many times. No institution is left as he is even trying to make the media his Tiger Force,” Bilawal alleged.
“PPP jiyalas will not spare him. Whenever he speaks, he makes a mistake. Now we are warning Khan that his days are numbered,” said Bilawal.
Bilawal’s comments come as the speculation continues about the appointment of the head of ISI, following the unusual delay in the issuance of official notification of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum’s appointment as the new spymaster.
Following the emergency meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentary group at Parliament House yesterday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media that the notification regarding the appointment of new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency would be issued in two to three days, reports Dawn.
Fawad denied that the premier would take interviews of the potential candidates but said: “Prime Minister Imran Khan will just meet all candidates (for the slot of DG ISI)”.
No such interviews have been taken in the past by any prime minister. Rather the official who is selected as head of the ISI pays a goodwill visit to the prime minister after his appointment.
However, during the parliamentary meeting, PM Khan assured the party leaders that the issue of the appointment of the new ISI chief has been amicably settled by him and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and that the government will complete its five-year term.
Prior to the party meeting, Fawad Chaudhry while talking to reporters at Parliament House, said, “Everyone, at the turn of every hour, is trying to twist the matter to gain some popularity.”
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday convened an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentary group at Parliament House.
Journalists questioned PM Khan about the appointment of the Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency at Parliament House.
وزیراعظم عمران خان سے صحافیوں نے پارلیمینٹ ہاؤس میں دو ٹوک سوالات کیے تو انہوں نے جواب دینے کی بجائے بھرپور قہقہہ لگایا ۔ ملاحظہ کیجیے pic.twitter.com/SSE7fB6CnL
PM Khan did not answer the question but laughed in response.
Prior to this, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad today, where journalists questioned him about the appointment of DG ISI and he responded with laughter as well.
تقرریاں ہو رہی ہیں، سمن جاری ہوا نہیں ہوا، کیا کہیں گے؟، میرا سوال
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, while talking to reporters at Parliament House, said, “Everyone, at the turn of every hour, is trying to twist the matter to gain some popularity.”
فوج اور حکومت میں کوئی اختلاف نہیں، سب ایک پیج پر ہیں۔ نئے ڈی جی آئی ایس آئی کی تقرری کا پراسیس شروع ہو چکا ہے، جلد مکمل ہو جائے گا۔ وزیر اطلاعات @fawadchaudhrypic.twitter.com/MUbcke0Co8
He said that the process of DG ISI’s appointment has started and will complete soon and that “there’s no dispute between the government and the military”.
“Everyone is on the same page.”
Earlier today, Fawad took to Twitter and said the game that a certain section wanted to play on the issue of the appointment has failed.
نئی DG ISI کی تقرری کا عمل جلد مکمل ہو جائیگا، ایک مخصوص طبقہ اس معاملے پر جو کھیل کھیلنا چاہتا تھا وہ ناکام ہو چکا ہے اب کہا جا رہا ہے وزیر اعظم نئے DGISI کیلئے انٹرویو کریں گے ان عہدوں پر تعیناتی سے قبل ملاقات ایک عمومی روائیت ہے ایسے عمل کو بھی متنازعہ بنانا انتہائ نامناسب ہے
“Now it is being said that the prime minister will conduct an interview for the appointment of the new DG ISI. Meetings before such appointments are a normal practice,” he said.
He added that it is “highly inappropriate” to make such meetings controversial.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, when questioned about the appointment of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, responded with laughter.
تقرریاں ہو رہی ہیں، سمن جاری ہوا نہیں ہوا، کیا کہیں گے؟، میرا سوال
A journalist asked Zardari, “Appointments are being made, a summon has not been issued, what will you say?”
“My summon?” asked Zardari in response.
“Who will be the new DG ISI?” asked the journalist.
Zardari responded by laughing out loud.
Zardari made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad on Thursday and said that the “next turn” to form a government in the country will be that of the PPP.
Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday tweeted that consultation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the appointment of a new DG ISI had been completed and the process for the appointment had begun.
According to experts in defence matters, the procedure for the appointment is not mentioned in the Constitution or the Army Act, and all past appointments were made as per traditions under which the army chief proposes three names to the premier who then makes a final decision, reports Dawn.
