Lebanon MPs Call for Investigative Panel over Wiretapping

Fadlallah said in the past wiretapping citizens was carried out in general. Judges used to easily issue warrants allowing that. He explained that if there are security needs then the law could be amended but not violated.

Meanwhile, Fadlallah stressed that what has been achieved regarding the wiretapping issue is an accomplishment. "However, I cannot say that wiretapping is over. What is over is communications scanning," he said. He noted that at the committee meeting Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil presented models showing how the privacy of citizens was being violated. "There was a quasi consensus in supporting steps for preventing that from happening," Fadlallah said.

"We shall present a report to the parliament speaker detailing what has been achieved," he declared. "If he finds that we did a satisfactory job then shall go to form a parliamentary investigative committee," he added. "In theory we have won this legal battle, government has to implement this and parliament is to monitor that," he concluded, adding that the basic fight is to return to the rule of law.

"I say with confidence we have made some major steps in bringing this dispute back to its legal framework in protecting citizens rights," Fadlallah said. He stressed that cabinet sets the needs of security forces without violating the law, "otherwise cabinet has to present an amending draft for doing so."

Earlier, Bassil told Lebanese daily As-Safir that he would attend Thursday's meeting carrying with him a dossier full of "satisfactory answers to questions posed to him at the previous session."

"On the contrary, I will be the one who will request to hold all those who have violated implementation of the wiretapping law," Bassil warned. "I have many questions to ask in this regard," he added.