• Amnesty International claims Pakistan is spying on over four million citizens using mass surveillance tools.
• The Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) allows monitoring of phone activity and digital communications.
• Pakistan is using a Chinese-built firewall that blocks and inspects internet access, exacerbating censorship.
• The report cites evidence from a recent court case regarding phone tapping and leaks involving political figures.

A new report from Amnesty International reveals that Pakistani authorities are allegedly conducting mass surveillance on over four million citizens using advanced technology. The surveillance operations reportedly involve both a phone-tapping system and a Chinese-built internet firewall, known as WMS 2.0, which censors social media and inspects internet traffic. This extensive monitoring network has raised concerns about its implications for free speech and dissent in the country, according to Dawn and Reuters.

The report details how the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS) allows Pakistan's intelligence agencies to tap into millions of mobile devices, while the firewall can block up to two million active internet sessions simultaneously. Amnesty describes this dual system as a chilling effect on society, deterring individuals from exercising their rights, both online and offline. This information is corroborated by findings from Indiatimes.

Amnesty’s findings are particularly concerning given the backdrop of tightening governmental controls following political upheaval, such as the military's ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The situation has involved significant crackdowns on dissent, with reports of jailings and intimidation of political opponents. The evidence regarding phone tapping emerged notably from a court case in 2024 involving Bushra Bibi, Khan's wife, after leaked private calls prompted legal scrutiny, as reported by Indiatimes and Reuters.

According to the Amnesty report, Pakistan has blocked around 650,000 web links and places significant restrictions on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. Allegations of internet blackouts and pervasive censorship in areas like Balochistan highlight the severe extent of these measures. The report sheds light on the international dimensions of this surveillance infrastructure, revealing connections to both Chinese firms and Western technologies, further adding to the gravity of the situation, as detailed by Dawn and Indiatimes.