Lahore:The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday summoned the Interior Secretary, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, Commerce Secretary and Member Customs in person on October 15 over the failure of relevant departments to submit their responses in a petition challenging the sale of camera-equipped glasses.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition filed by Nadira Bibi.
During the hearing, Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Hassan Naqvi and other officials appeared before the court along with Deputy Attorney General Riffaqat Ali Dogar.
The deputy attorney general submitted a report on behalf of the NCCIA. Meanwhile, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Legal Adviser Muhammad Afzal Khan also appeared and sought additional time to submit the authority’s response. The court allowed the request.
Expressing displeasure over the failure of other respondents to file their replies, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum asked why their responses had not been submitted despite notices being issued to them.
Deputy Attorney General Riffaqat Ali Dogar told the court that notices had been served on the relevant parties, but their responses had yet to be received.
The chief justice directed that the concerned officials appear before the court at the next hearing. The court subsequently summoned the Interior Secretary, FBR Chairman, Commerce Secretary and Member Customs in person on October 15.
The petitioner contended that camera-equipped glasses were being sold at markets and supermarkets, enabling covert recording and posing a threat to citizens’ privacy and security.
According to the petition, no approval had been obtained from any government authority for the sale of such glasses. The petitioner argued that the devices could be used to record videos and take photographs without people’s consent, creating potential security risks.
The petitioner asked the court to impose an immediate ban on the sale of camera-equipped glasses and seek an explanation from the relevant government authorities responsible for their import and sale.