Pakistan is reportedly surveilling millions of citizens using an extensive phone-tapping system and a powerful internet firewall, Amnesty International claimed in a report released Tuesday. The rights watchdog alleges that the country’s growing monitoring network relies on both Chinese and Western technology, fueling a sweeping crackdown on dissent and free speech.
According to Amnesty, Pakistan’s spy agencies can monitor at least 4 million mobile phones simultaneously through the Lawful Intercept Management System (LIMS). Meanwhile, a firewall known as WMS 2.0 inspects internet traffic and can block 2 million active sessions at once. The two systems operate together: LIMS intercepts calls and texts, while WMS 2.0 slows or blocks websites and social media nationwide.
“Mass surveillance creates a chilling effect in society, whereby people are deterred from exercising their rights, both online and offline,” the report said. Amnesty technologist Jurre van Berge added that the number of phones under surveillance could be higher, as all four major mobile operators have been ordered to connect to LIMS.
Legal Backdrop and Government Denials
Amnesty’s findings draw on a 2024 Islamabad High Court case filed by Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, after her private calls were leaked online. In court, Pakistan’s defence ministries and intelligence agencies denied operating phone-tapping systems. However, the telecom regulator admitted it had already ordered phone companies to install LIMS for use by “designated agencies.”
Requests for comment from Pakistan’s technology, interior, and information ministries, as well as the telecom regulator, went unanswered.
Foreign Technology Fuels Surveillance
The firewall is supplied by Chinese company Geedge Networks, founded by Fang Binxing, known as the father of China’s “Great Firewall.” Amnesty reports that the firewall incorporates equipment from US-based Niagara Networks, software from France’s Thales Group, and servers from a Chinese state IT firm. Earlier versions relied on Canada’s Sandvine.
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Geedge Networks has exported its surveillance and censorship technology to Myanmar, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, according to leaked internal data analyzed by international newsrooms and NGOs. Its flagship product, the Tiangou Secure Gateway, can block VPNs, monitor internet usage, and even launch attacks on websites.
Amnesty’s report also highlights that Pakistan is currently blocking roughly 650,000 web links and restricting platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, using both the firewall and other internet monitoring tools.
Impact on Citizens and IT Sector
The dual surveillance system has far-reaching consequences. Internet disruptions and power outages are causing significant losses for IT firms and freelancers. Citizens’ privacy is increasingly compromised, and the right to freedom of expression is under pressure.
“People have no idea of this constant surveillance, and its incredible reach,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International. The NGO warned that such a pervasive system, operating in the shadows, severely limits access to information and public discourse.
Rising Authoritarianism and Legislative Changes
Amnesty’s findings coincide with Pakistan’s political developments over the past two years. Following the May 2023 arrest of Imran Khan, the state used its security apparatus to crack down on protests, arrest civilians without warrants, and restrict media coverage. The intelligence agencies were empowered to tap phones and monitor online communications under the pretext of national security.
In 2023 and 2024, the government enacted legal measures such as the Official Secrets (Amendment) Act (OSA) and the 26th Constitutional Amendment, consolidating executive power and curbing civil liberties. The OSA expanded the ISI’s surveillance authority, criminalized unauthorized disclosure of information, and imposed harsher penalties for online dissent.
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The 26th Amendment altered the judicial appointment process, allowing parliamentary committees to select the Chief Justice and other judges, effectively politicizing the judiciary and weakening the separation of powers. Critics fear these measures institutionalize authoritarianism in Pakistan.
Electoral and Judicial Implications
The 2024 general elections demonstrated the growing use of state power to manipulate democratic outcomes. Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced targeted restrictions: its leader Imran Khan was barred from campaigning and imprisoned, candidates were prevented from political rallies, and election symbols were manipulated. Discrepancies between polling station results and official tallies raised concerns about vote tampering, highlighting the erosion of electoral integrity.
Meanwhile, judicial independence has suffered. The Chief Justice’s tenure was reduced to three years, and appointments are now influenced by parliamentary committees, undermining the judiciary’s role as a check on the executive.
International and Human Rights Concerns
The deployment of surveillance technologies in Pakistan mirrors trends in other authoritarian regimes. Investigations show that Geedge Networks’ systems have also been used in Myanmar and Ethiopia to silence dissent and restrict access to information. Experts warn that the combination of mass phone surveillance and internet censorship constitutes a serious human rights risk, limiting citizens’ freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy.
Digital rights organizations, such as Bolo Bhi, have voiced concerns about China’s growing influence over Pakistan’s surveillance infrastructure. “Pakistan is a democracy, we have fundamental rights – you cannot treat us the way the Chinese government does with its own citizens,” said Usama Khilji of Bolo Bhi.
Amnesty International’s report exposes Pakistan’s pervasive surveillance system and its implications for democracy, privacy, and freedom of expression. Coupled with recent legislative changes and political manipulation, the report paints a picture of a nation increasingly steering toward authoritarianism. Without accountability and reform, Pakistan’s civil liberties and democratic institutions face long-term threats.