In a recent update on X, Qazi Dad Mohammad Rehan, Information and Cultural Secretary of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been accessing WhatsApp messages.
This unsettling news came to light during the Baloch Raji Muchi event, a public gathering organized by the Human Rights Movement BYC, where several users discovered their messages had been deleted, with a notification stating, “Unable to show – This message was deleted by ISI.” Rehan has shared a screenshot to support his claim.
Rehan’s post underscores growing concerns among WhatsApp users about government surveillance, particularly by the ISI, and the potential implications for democratic values and human rights.
The ISI has faced prior allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings involving political and human rights activists.Additionally, Rehan noted that Facebook has blocked several accounts of Baloch political activists who have criticized the Pakistan military and advocated for Baloch rights.In light of these developments, Qazi Rehan has advised Baloch and other political activists in Pakistan to cease using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, labeling these platforms as unsafe for secure communication.
