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FIA, police spy agencies using Israeli hacking tools since 2012: report

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  • Cellebrite’s products allow hacking into password-protected cellphones.
  • Invitations for bids show police, FIA regularly use these systems.
  • The firm says it “does not sell to Pakistan, directly or indirectly”.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other police agencies in Pakistan have been using hacking tools produced by Israeli cyber technology firm since at least 2012, a report published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed on Thursday.

The report said Cellebrite, the Israeli tech firm, products law enforcement agencies to engage in digital forensic work by hacking into password-protected cellphones and copying all the information stored on them – including pictures, documents, text messages, calling histories and contacts.

The Israeli newspaper quoted local media in Pakistan as reporting that in 2012 that the Sindh police had acquired a flagship product UFED Touch Ultimate devices made by Cellebrite, and their use has been expanding since.

The report further said that operating manuals, documents and official invitations for bids show that police and FIA regularly use these systems.

The report further said spyware connection between Israel and Pakistan has crossed decades, political parties and ruling administrations.

In 2021, the FIA issued a tender during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for the hacking devices, a period during which Cellbrite’s Singapore subsidiary continued to sell its products directly to Pakistan.

The report also said in May the Peshawar police also issued a tender for the acquisition of Israeli hacking tools.

In its response to this article, Cellebrite stated: “The company does not sell to Pakistan, directly or indirectly.”

It added that Cellebrite is committed to its goal of creating a safer world by providing solutions for law enforcement bodies that permit them to solve crimes more quickly.

“For that purpose, we have developed strict means of oversight that ensure proper use of our technology in the context of investigations carried out by virtue of the law. As a global leader in digital intelligence, Cellebrite’s solutions assist thousands of law enforcement agencies to convict those who endanger public security and to do justice to the victims of crime.”

In 2021, a collaborative investigation by The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde and other media outlets revealed that an Israeli firm was involved in hacking tens of thousands of smartphone numbers, including activists, journalists, business executives and politicians around the world.

The investigative report said then-prime minister Imran Khan’s number was also targeted by the NSO Group and its Pegasus malware, which is capable of switching a phone’s camera or microphone on and harvesting its data.

Israel’s Haaretz earlier reported that India targeted a phone which was earlier in then-PM Khan’s use, through the malware.

Reacting to the reports, Pakistan had called on the relevant United Nations bodies to thoroughly investigate India’s use of Israeli spyware against Khan and others.

“We have noted with serious concern in recent international media reports exposing Indian government’s organised spying operations against its own citizens, foreigners as well as then-premier Khan, using an Israeli origin spyware,” the Foreign Office in a statement on July 23, 2021.

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Combating Terrorism: Twelve Terrorists Destroyed in Separate Operations by Security Forces

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Eleven terrorists and Kharijis were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Miran Shah District and North Waziristan. One of the victims was Sana Alias Baru, a high-value target.

In the vicinity of Miran Shah in North Waziristan, security forces successfully fought the Khwarij, leading to the death of eight and injury of six.

The general region of Balgatar, Kech District, Balochistan was earlier the scene of an Intelligence-Based Operation that resulted in the deaths of four terrorists, one of them was a high-value target.

Authorities in Kech District were actively seeking Baru, who had a pivotal role in recruiting members of the so-called Majeed Brigade, particularly suicide bombers.

Among the terrorists’ possessions were weapons and ammo.

In order to eradicate any lingering terrorists in the vicinity, a sanitation operation is currently under progress.

With unwavering resolve, the Pakistani security forces will eradicate the terrorist threat from the nation.

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Constitutional Bench Gets to Work: Petitions Dismissed, Fines Slapped on Frivolous Petitioners

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As of today, pending matters are being heard by the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench, which was established under the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.

On its first day of operation, the six-judge Constitutional Bench presided over by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan dismissed several frivolous petitions, including one challenging legislation enacted by the PDM government, and fined the petitioner twenty thousand rupees for bringing the case.

Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan make up the Constitutional Bench, along with Justice Amin.

The bench rejected the appeal challenging the decision of the Supreme Court to appoint Qazi Faez Isa, a former chief justice of Pakistan, to the position of chief justice of the Balochistan high court.

In addition to upholding the Registrar Office’s objections, the Constitutional Bench rejected a petition asking for a change to the general election date on 8 February.

It has become an infructuous affair, the bench said, regarding the review of the Supreme Court’s decision on the review of judgment and order.

Justice Amin Uddin told the Attorney General that the Supreme Court has acknowledged parliament’s involvement in legislation in response to his claim that the verdict has commented on parliament’s position as legislative.

The bench found the petitioner’s claims to be baseless and fined them 20,000 rupees, dismissing their request to outlaw marriages between government employees and foreign nationals.

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Ahsan says all available resources should be used to eradicate smog at the air pollution meeting.

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According to Ahsan Iqbal, the country’s minister of planning and development, a non-traditional approach is required to address the pollution problem, and every available resource would be used to eradicate this grave issue.

Children are disproportionately affected by pollution, the Planning Minister stated during a special meeting on smog and air pollution in Islamabad.

He claimed that cooperation between the federal government and the provinces is urgently needed to address the various problems that climate change has caused in Pakistan.

Smog is interfering with everyday activities, the Minister added, and it has grown to be a serious threat to our future.

Burning crop residue is the cause of smog, he claimed.

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