Senate body concerned at US NSA spying report

ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s committee on Interior Tuesday expressed serious concerns over reports that US NSA was using a malware to spy on Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership, and asked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the intelligence agencies to submit a report to the committee.

Chairman Senate’s Committee on Interior Senator Rehman Malik also asked for report from the PTA about the measures it had taken against the piracy of IMEI numbers as a single IMEI number is used by multiple mobile phones for the purpose of terrorism and frauds.

The meeting, chaired by Malik, was attended by its members Senator Shahi Syed, Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashahdi, Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah and Senator Shibli Faraz, as Senator Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qayyum attended as a special invitee.

The senate’s committee strongly condemned Altaf Hussain for anti-Pakistan statement and instigating workers attack on media houses in Karachi. Senator Malik said Altaf strongly condemned anti-Pakistan statement by Altaf, saying it had hurt the feelings of every Pakistani. 

Expressing serious concern on the attack on media houses in Karachi by MQM workers, the committee chairman asked the Secretary Interior to submit a detailed report about the incident and directed the IGP Sindh to brief the committee on the issue in its next meeting.

About the news that NSA used malware to spy Pakistan civilian and military leadership, Malik said Pakistan was lacking national cyber security laws that could deal with those who attack our national and public installations to steal important information.

Senator Malik asked the National Telecommunication Corporation and the PTA to brief the committee on the in its next meeting. He also asked the government to take up this issue with the US official.

Senator A. Rehman Malik also said that IMEI numbers were being pirated by terrorists and militants for terrorist activities. He stressed the need for stopping the import of millions of mobiles with a single IMEI number and taking necessary technological steps. 

Malik also asked the government to introduce draft bill for national cyber security on the pattern of the cyber crimes law.

In the meeting, SSP Sajid Keyani briefed the committee on the murder case Dr. Shahid Nawaz who was killed inside PIMS last year. The committee expressed dissatisfaction on the investigation as so far police had failed to find any clue to the killers. Malik directed the secretary interior to constitute a Join Investigation Team to investigate the murder.

A rich tribute was paid to the slain doctor him for his services, Senator Malik desired that a block and ward was named after the slain doctor in PIMS. The committee also recommended a civil award for him.

Director FIA Usman Anwar briefed the committee on the Grand Hayat Hotel scam in Islamabad. The committee also expressed concerns over the embezzlement in the deal with the CDA. Senator Malik said those responsible must face the law. FIA Director Usman Anwar told the committee the agency was fairly investigating the case and an inquiry report would be submitted to the court for further course of action.

Malik asked the CDA and FIA that how and why the schedule of payment was changed. The CDA was also directed to submit a comprehensive report to the committee about Safa Gold Mall also which was reportedly constructed on the land of a public dispensary.