Director General (DG) Intelligence Bureau (IB) Monday informed the parliamentary committee on rules of procedure and privileges that the perception IB tape the phones of parliamentarians and mediapersons is utterly misconceived. Director General of Civilian Spy Agency Intelligence Bureau, Aftab Sultan said either they have to bring it to the knowledge of Prime Minister or in principle his permission is solicited to tape phone of an individual or parliamentarians in national interest.
"I will categorically say that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani did not use IB for taping phones of parliamentarians or individuals," he added. The committee headed by Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (Retd) took up a privilege motion moved by PPP's Senator Saleem H Mandviwalla. Senator Mandviwalla alleged that his phone is being taped. In his support he distributed a letter of intelligence agency having an inquiry about his telephone.
Senator Mandviwalla urged the committee that he was informed by some sources that his phone was being taped by intelligence agency. "When I brought this information to the notice of my fellow senators, they told me their phones are also being taped," he added.
The DG IB ruled out the possibility of involvement of his bureau in taping the senator's phone, however, said that it might be some other intelligence agency. He further hinted that any embassy may request the intelligence agency to find out the end user of specific phone number.
Showing dissatisfaction on the explanation of the DG, Senator Mandviwalla stated that the ruling party had given instructions to IB for taping his phone. He demanded of the DG to reply in writing that he or his staff were not involved in taping his phone. The committee was informed that Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Haji Adeel had also complained about the same issue sometime back and the IB had submitted a reply that the civil intelligence is working under its legal ambit and carrying out all its responsibilities in the national interest. Senator Raza Rabbani was not satisfied with the IB response in case of Haji Adeel's complaint. He said this 25 words' response was insufficient. He said this tantamount to slapping on the face of the committee.
Criticising the role of the IB, Senator Rabbani said that 1974 rules has given blank cheque to the IB to tape the phones of any civilian on its own. He further stated that there is no procedure in practice to stop the intelligence agency to intrude in the privacy of an individual. ANP Senator Zahid Khan said it is not a good practice that the intelligence agency tapes the phone of parliamentarians whosoever called on any embassy for any inquiry. The committee chairman directed the DG to investigate the matter regarding Saleem Mandviwalla and submit a reply in writing within 10 days.
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