ISLAMABAD: A top civil intelligence agency of the country has been accused of stealing data from cell phones and taping tête-à-tête of politicians, journalists and civil society activists, visiting the Prime Minister Secretariat.

A credible source while requesting anonymity told Online that a particular wing of the intelligence agency headed by Colonel Saif, who is deputed at the Prime Minister Secretariat, collects data from cell phones of people including politicians, journalists and civil society activists visiting the secretariat, after they place their mobile phones at the entrance.

According to the source, the intelligence agency not only collects data including messages, contact numbers etc from the cell phones of opposition members of the parliament but also of those belong to the treasury benches to detect their contacts and the messages they may have sent or got.
“The stolen data is later sent to the media cell established at the Prime Minister Secretariat for further ‘necessary work’, “the source disclosed. The source also said that the team headed by Saif may also be recording the phone calls of important figures including the prime minister himself.
A senior minister of the ruling party, when contacted, he said while requesting anonymity that he was aware of the issue and he will take up the matter with the prime minister, who may not be aware of the issue.
“A thorough investigation will be conducted and the responsible will be taken to task,” he said.