According to a report published on Geo.tv today, during hearings held last month for a case on the illegal surveillance of Bushra Imran Khan, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) learned that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had ordered telecom companies to finance, import, and install a system for mass surveillance of citizens’ data.
The system, called the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS), grants access to private messages, video/audio content, call records, and web browsing histories. According to court documents, this system was used by “designated agencies” for surveillance.
The PTA directive required telecom companies to surveil 2% of their customers, affecting over four million citizens. Justice Babar Sattar of the IHC noted that this mass surveillance lacked legal basis and operated without judicial or executive oversight. While LIMS provided access to various data, it did not allow for automated decryption of encrypted data.
How LIMS works
The request goes through the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) automatically, allowing agencies to access private information such as SMS and call data from the telecom network. Court documents reveal that voice calls, SMS messages, audio and video content, and web browsing details can be reviewed and stored.
The court ruled that since LIMS was installed unlawfully, agencies using it are liable for criminal actions. The IHC likened this mass surveillance to George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four.”
The IHC has temporarily barred telecom companies from allowing LIMS access to their networks or consumer data.
The court directed PTA to submit a sealed report detailing the procurement, installation, and access to LIMS.
The case is adjourned until September, with a show-cause notice issued to PTA members and its chairman for misrepresentations regarding LIMS.
