Pak asks UN to probe India’s use of spyware
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called on the United Nations ( UN) on Friday to investigate whether India used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to spy on public figures including Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Imran’s phone number was on a list of what an investigation by a group of 17 international media organisations and Amnesty International said were potential surveillance targets for countries that bought the spyware.
Pakistan’s foreign office issued a statement accusing India of “state-sponsored, continuing and widespread surveillance and spying operations in clear breach of global norms of responsible state behaviour.”
“In view of the gravity of these reports, we call on the relevant UN bodies to thoroughly investigate the mater, bring the facts to light, and hold the Indian perpetrators to account,” it said.
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.
The Indian government has already faced calls by domestic political opponents to investigate allegations of spying on officials including the main opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi. Delhi has not responded to the allegations. The statement by Pakistan’s foreign office said Delhi had long been using such tactics in Indian-administered Kashmir, an accusation to which India did not immediately respond.
“We are closely following these revelations and will bring the Indian abuses to the atention of appropriate global plaforms,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Imran vowed to end poverty in Azad Jammu and Kashmir ater wining the upcoming general elections.
Addressing a public gathering at Tarar Khal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, he said “we will implement our flagship Ehsas programme in AJK to help Kashmir’s youth.”
The prime minister said the entire Pakistan is standing with the people of Kashmir and he will continue raising the Kashmir issue at every forum. Counting on sacrifices of Kashmiri people for their independence, he urged Kashmiri leaders specifically Ali Raza Gilani and Yasin Malik to show perseverance as success comes ater the difficulty. The prime minister strongly rejected the notion that PTI government is mulling to make Azad Jammu and Kashmir a province of Pakistan. He said according to the UN Resolutions, only Kashmiri people can decide their future through referendum.